This blog originally posted on Healthcare IT News. To read the full article, go here.
We are living in a time when technology is rapidly transforming our quality of life. Consumer behaviors have dramatically changed the health care landscape, and expectations of technology are at an all-time high.
Health care is on the heels of other industries that have already latched onto this trend. We’re already seeing how health care technology is becoming more intelligent, easier and more natural to use. And it’s about time: Providers and consumers need streamlined, adaptive workflows that are "aware" of all factors — clinical, social, environmental and geographic — that affect health and personal engagement.
Consumers are looking for additional points of contact with their healthcare providers and easier access to their health information. The future of health IT relies on forming a personal connection with consumers and creating a sticky experience that helps providers become trusted partners in their health and wellness journey.
It all starts by creating smarter care within.
Intelligent health care experiences
Smarter care is about the use of actionable health information to drive meaningful outcomes and improve a person's health status. There’s more to it than helping improve individual health outcomes. It can also reduce costs and streamline operations for health care providers. Smarter care will help anticipate providers' needs as the industry consolidates, regulations change and reimbursement models shift. With the addition of market drivers like value-based care and economic factors that influence how consumers engage in their health decisions, there is room for providers to reduce inefficiencies and anticipate future needs throughout the healthcare system.
Smarter care also involves creating intelligent experiences. The raw power of health data must be leveraged to uncover insights that help improve the health of the individual and the community.
As intelligence and machine learning continues to advance, they will provide a wider array of treatment recommendations as well as streamline routine tasks like clinical documentation. Over time, the provider will continue to gain meaningful insights to improve care each day. While the full potential of machine learning and cognitive assistance lies in the future, the benefits of intelligence can be leveraged now by the provider to create a more efficient workflow and a more personalized, smarter experience.
Smarter care and the path toward interoperability
One of the most crucial factors contributing to smarter, patient-centric care is interoperability. If we boil interoperability down to its essence, it answers this simple question: "Can I have my record?" The answer to this should be a resounding "yes" for all healthcare providers.
Consumer-directed health records empower consumers to take an active role in managing their own health. Unifying multiple platforms and data sources across the continuum creates one record, one plan and one bill, giving consumers their health information in one place, regardless of where they receive care.
Working to provide smarter care and better outcomes is who Cerner is at its core. No longer will consumers receive fragmented care that results in costly treatments; instead, smarter care will lead to individualized healthcare experiences that prevent disease before it takes hold. This next phase of health care depends on finding new ways for individuals to take an active role in their wellness, while continuing to advance care delivery and outcomes – it's time to provide smarter care.
Learn more about Cerner’s approach to smarter care at the 2018 HIMSS Conference. For information on the Cerner Booth, our Interoperability Showcase, our Cybersecurity Showcase and our education sessions, go here.
