How can technology support your advocacy efforts with physicians?
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As a health professional, you know how important it is to advocate for your patients and your practice with physicians. But how can you use technology to support your advocacy efforts and communicate more effectively with doctors? In this article, we will explore some evidence-based advocacy practices that can help you leverage technology to enhance your collaboration and influence with physicians.
One of the simplest ways to use technology for advocacy is to adopt secure messaging platforms that allow you to exchange information with physicians in a timely and confidential manner. Secure messaging platforms can help you avoid phone tag, reduce errors, and improve coordination of care. You can use them to send reminders, updates, questions, feedback, and referrals to physicians, as well as to share relevant resources, guidelines, and best practices. Secure messaging platforms can also help you build rapport and trust with physicians, as you can use them to express appreciation, recognition, and support.
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Amos Dare MD, FACS
Neurosurgeon, Founder - MedMatch Network | Digital Health Transformation Leader | Artificial Intelligence and Healthcare | Patient Advocacy | Author
As a founder of a digital health platform fostering provider communication and exchange of patient information, I couldn’t agree more. Lately I found myself not able to pick up the phone and discuss a case with another provider as often as I used to, because I am relying more and more on messaging. More likely than not, a patient’s consultation report will come in and be placed in the patient chart/EHR until the next visit. A patient-centric provider platform is a good way for providers to stay informed real-time about a particular patient, flag and share critical information, and act in a timely fashion.
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Dr.Hasan Alrajhi
Healthcare Advisor | Internal Medicine Specialist, Expert in patients safety
Health Information Technology (HIT): Advocacy work around HIT aims to improve communication between patients, family physicians, payers, and pharmacies. This can be achieved through secured integrated health information system platform, that facilitate secured and efficient access to patient information from his authorised physician, healthcare facility he aligned with , and his medical insurance company. Even patient himself he can get the right to share his information after his consent to a licensed physician aligned with healthcare facilities approved by patient medical insurance company. In the same time the patient family physician can review all his patient medical records and external physicians medical recommendations and advices.
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Another way to use technology for advocacy is to create digital portfolios that showcase your skills, achievements, and impact as a health professional. Digital portfolios can help you demonstrate your value and credibility to physicians, as well as to highlight your areas of expertise and interest. You can use digital portfolios to share your credentials, certifications, awards, publications, presentations, testimonials, and case studies with physicians, as well as to document your professional development and learning goals. Digital portfolios can also help you solicit feedback and mentorship from physicians, as well as to identify opportunities for collaboration and innovation.
A third way to use technology for advocacy is to use data visualization tools that can help you present complex and compelling data to physicians in a clear and engaging way. Data visualization tools can help you illustrate trends, patterns, correlations, and outliers in your data, as well as to compare and contrast different scenarios and outcomes. You can use data visualization tools to support your arguments and recommendations with evidence, as well as to highlight gaps and challenges that need attention. Data visualization tools can also help you spark curiosity and interest among physicians, as well as to invite questions and discussion.
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Savio Kumar
Medical Director @ Medpace | Nephrology
Data visualization has greatly improved medical care for both patients and physicans in things as simple as EMRs and patient portals. Prior to this utilizing papercharting it was difficult to analzye trends in lab patterns or other data available. It is much easier to see trends in cummulative data through this as well as analyze any possible causation leading to earlier discovery and implementation of medical therapy solutions. As well, root cause discovery to implement in other similar cases that previously may have been missed.
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A fourth way to use technology for advocacy is to join online communities that can help you connect and network with physicians who share your interests, values, and goals. Online communities can help you access and exchange knowledge, insights, and experiences with physicians, as well as to learn from their perspectives and practices. You can join online communities that focus on specific topics, specialties, or populations, as well as on broader issues such as quality improvement, patient safety, or health policy. Online communities can also help you establish and maintain relationships with physicians, as well as to collaborate on projects and initiatives.
A fifth way to use technology for advocacy is to use social media strategically to raise awareness and influence opinions among physicians and other stakeholders. Social media can help you amplify your voice and reach, as well as to showcase your expertise and passion. You can use social media to share relevant content, such as articles, blogs, podcasts, videos, or infographics, that highlight your views and values, as well as to engage with your audience and peers. Social media can also help you monitor and respond to trends, issues, and opportunities that affect your practice and your patients.
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Savio Kumar
Medical Director @ Medpace | Nephrology
Newer communication pathways have allowed greater integration of social media and healthcare. In recent times this has allowed for healthcare options such as clinical trials to reach a larger audience with cooperation from investigational clinical trial sites and patient support groups.This allows the information to reach physicians and patients much more quickly on what may be available to them if resistant to current therapies where as previously pharmacy reps would only be able to visit offices after the drug had finished the trials. This increased integration of social media, patient support groups, clinical research sites now allows the practicing physicians and patients to learn about the newest investigational therapies much sooner.
A sixth way to use technology for advocacy is to adopt telehealth solutions that can help you deliver and coordinate care with physicians in a convenient and cost-effective way. Telehealth solutions can help you overcome barriers such as distance, time, and access, as well as to improve patient satisfaction and outcomes. You can use telehealth solutions to consult, diagnose, treat, and follow up with patients, as well as to collaborate and consult with physicians and other health professionals. Telehealth solutions can also help you demonstrate your competence and confidence as a health professional, as well as to showcase your innovation and adaptability.
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Michael King, DPM, FACFAS, FFPM RCPS(Glasg)
Chief Medical Officer at Upperline Health, Past President American Podiatric Medical Association
Telehealth is a great tool for rapid access to patients to assist them in need. I do fear the system dropping the coverage for such and would be a detriment to the physician and ancillary services which add so much to the care paradigm.
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Savio Kumar
Medical Director @ Medpace | Nephrology
Telehealth has greatly aided in physicians not only working with patients, but does also apply to interoperability between physicians. This allows a patient's physician panel to discuss in a teams approach at times when not all can meet physically. This greatly improves a patient's overall care in integrated clinics and care but also cross collaboration system improvement in fields of medicine. Further examples of this are asynchronous platforms allowing physicians to collaborate more on care.
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