One of the biggest challenges that Accountable Care Organizations (ACOs) face today is ensuring that patients comply with their healthcare providers treatment recommendations.
Treatment usually revolves around patients receiving the correct medication at the right time, and patient adherence has long been an issue for ACOs. In fact, the Network for Excellence in Health Innovation found that non-adherence to medication creates nearly $290 billion dollars per year in avoidable spending. Thats approximately 13% of total healthcare spending in the United States. The reasons for medication non-adherence range from the high cost of medications and unpleasant side effects, to patients difficulty understanding directions, among others.
Earlier this year, the Annals of Internal Medicine published a study that found nearly one-third of new patient prescriptions go unfilled. One key factor of poor adherence was prescription costs, while another was the limited follow-up communication between physicians and patients after an appointment, especially with patients suffering from multiple chronic conditions.
Additionally, MedCity News recently published a story about a new survey from data analytics startup AllazoHealth. One of their key findings was that many insurers are still addressing the issue of medication adherence mostly through more traditional means, such as by phone calls, snail mail and in-person meetings with either pharmacists or physicians. Yet 67 percent of the 30 payers surveyed said their efforts to fix furtherance were only moderately effective.
A 2012 survey by Accenture found that 90% of patients want to self-manage their healthcare with technology that allows them to access medical information, refill prescriptions and book appointments online. We see a clear opportunity here for ACOs to take advantage of digital solutions to improve communication between patient and provider in real time. By using mHealth technology, providers can follow up with their patients to ensure they are compliant between office visits.
Smart Clinic provides a simple, inexpensive method of tracking patient compliance and can enhance patient care and communication within your organization. Schedule a live demo today!
