HealthTap is an online telehealth service that utilizes qualified doctors and artificial intelligence to classify, prioritize, and advise patients seeking assistance with a medical issue.
Members can utilize the app to request virtual consultations, receive prescription and lab orders, as well as get referrals to specialists. Furthermore, it provides reminders for follow-ups and has competitive costs compared to other similar services.
Patient engagement
Patients are the ultimate consumers of healthcare, and their involvement is essential to the success of a healthcare organization. Engaged patients are less likely to experience delays, make fewer trips to the emergency room and enjoy improved health outcomes at lower costs.
A patient’s level of activation is determined by their skills and confidence in managing their own healthcare, as well as the capacity to make informed decisions about medical care. Professor Judith Hibbard from the University of Oregon developed a validated survey to measure this, and research has shown that those with higher levels of activation experience lower medical expenses than those who are least activated.
Healthcare organizations should engage patients at multiple levels: direct patient care, organizational design and governance, as well as policy making. These strategies build patient self-efficacy, promote ongoing education and shared decision making, while cultivating positive relationships with physicians.
Patient education
Patients can use HealthTap to ask questions about a variety of medical conditions. Users can also search the platform’s database for pre-vetted answers that typically arrive within 24 hours.
HealthTap doctors can answer general inquiries and prescribe medication or provide health education – some of these services being free.
The site also provides two paid services: Basic and Prime. The Basic plan is a pay-per-session option, while the Prime plan offers monthly consultations with a doctor.
For doctors, the service offers them a chance to gain new patients and enhance their reputation within their community. Furthermore, it allows them to earn some of the continuing medical education credits necessary for maintaining their licenses.
While the service is free, members must abide by certain conditions. Examples include making multiple virtual visits without a valid medical reason, trying to obtain prescriptions that HealthTap doctors cannot write or don’t deem medically necessary, and requesting another virtual visit before receiving summary notes from previous ones.
Patient advocacy
Patient advocacy involves ensuring patients receive the appropriate medical care at the right time. This responsibility falls to all healthcare professionals, regardless of title.
Advocacy is a vital skill that necessitates both vocalizing your patients’ conditions and listening intently to their worries. This lifesaving practice can make the difference between a successful outcome and an unrecoverable one.
Healthcare organizations employ patient advocates to assist patients in navigating the system and finding answers to their queries. They may also facilitate communication with family members and guarantee secure living situations for residents.
A platform that makes healthcare more transparent by allowing doctors to rate the effectiveness of certain medications they’ve dispensed to patients. According to Healthtap, 500,000 physicians are contributing their drug recommendations into the urdughr system.
Patient empowerment
Patient empowerment is an integral element of patient engagement. It encourages communication between doctor and patient, builds trust, and ultimately results in improved health outcomes.
Education of patients on health issues, medical information, and medication management can have a beneficial effect on their wellbeing. When patients feel more informed about their condition, they’re more likely to engage in their care and adhere to doctor instructions.
Healthcare apps provide patients with the tools to track and manage their chronic conditions. They can keep tabs on medications, set goals, and assess progress towards those objectives.
Conclusion
Online communities can be a source of comfort and support for patients. Despite some misgivings about sharing personal information online, these sites offer an accessible space where people can come together and discuss pertinent health topics.
