Throughout the Meaningful Use rollout, there’s been discussion of how to best use all of these new health IT toys to get patients more engaged in their care. But as far as I know, the following is the first time ONC has officially launched an initiative to cultivate the emergence of health IT-smart e-patients.
In a new article in Health Affairs, ONC national coordinator for health IT Farzad Mostashari has shared plans to use health IT to reach patients and encourage their involvement with their care. The ONC is already working with 17 Beacon communities to test ideas such as text-messaging for diabetes risk assessment, but the idea now is to expand things to much higher level.
ONC now hopes to encourage patients to participate in e-patient activities such as secure e-mail messaging with doctors, use of EMRs that patients can add to and transmit, as well as use of mobile health apps for chronic disease monitoring and wellness promotion, reports Politico.com.
I’m excited to see ONC jump on this bandwagon enthusiastically. While there is an e-patient movement afoot, and a growing list of doctors interested in “participatory medicine,” it’s unlikely that the run-of-the-mill patient with few self-advocacy or technical skills would get involved on their own.
And the truth is, if ONC truly wants to build a nation of engaged patients, Meaningful Use requirements are too modest by far. Sure, there’s new requirements afoot that will make it easier for patients to e-mail doctors and transmit their health information, and that’s fine. But the truth is that few patients will take advantage of these features without a great degree of encouragement.
As something of an e-patient myself, I’m eager to see the movement blossom, as I believe it’s good for both the clinician and ordinary citizens receiving medical care. Let’s see how much effort Dr. Mostashari and his team put into cultivating patient engagement.
Anne,
Appreciate your insight, as always, and agree with most of what you said except would like to add to this thought:
“While there is an e-patient movement afoot, and a growing list of doctors interested in “participatory medicine,” it’s unlikely that the run-of-the-mill patient with few self-advocacy or technical skills would get involved on their own…”
I think the e-patient movement is rapidly growing and what we’re seeing is the emergence of e-healthcare advocates like those that belong to the whose mission is the stand in the gap for the patients you mention. Even these patients can take advantage of participatory medicine.
Thanks Anne; refreshing to note that ONC’s work is being appreciated.
Yes; ONC is encouraging, among all the other initiatives, e-Patients, e-COnsults and more.
While there is much discussion about why not to embrace the changes fostered by emergence and adoption of Health IT, there is minimal discussions on the positive impacts.
I am glad you pointed out one of such. Thanks again.