by Dr. Obinna Nwobi, MD 
In the ever-changing healthcare industry, more and more hospitals and practices are turning towards a new model for providing care that focuses on “value” rather than “volume”.
This has been helped by insurers who offer plans based around specific needs instead of just covering everything at once which can lead patients down unwanted paths with treatments they don’t need or want while also costing them money out of their own pockets if something goes wrong along this path.
Here are more ways how technology helps value based healthcare grow:
Value is better than Volume
The difference between these models largely comes down to how doctors and hospitals are compensated.
Volume-based treatments focus on the number of services they provide, while value based approaches measure patient outcomes in some way.
Moving to a value-based model means the various providers who treat one patient will now be monetarily rewarded based on how that person does after care.
The ‘value based’ model of healthcare spending calls for paying providers based on their cost-effectiveness so they can measure the outcomes and performance.
Cost-effective Treatment through Patient Engagement
The doctor-patient relationship is a crucial part in determining how much care someone needs, but it can be difficult for doctors and insurance companies because they are on separate teams.
New patient engagement technologies break down these barriers by allowing both parties to work together towards providing the best possible outcome so patients get their treatments without having any worries or concerns about cost.
Advanced Patient Outreach
In a value-based system, it’s important that patients are engaged in their care and decisions.
To do this we need to move beyond the traditional online patient portal system which many hospitals use by implementing more advanced technologies like tracking not only what treatments a patient receives but also between visits with a doctor or nurse practitioner – so they can better understand where improvements might be needed.
The process of tracking patients can be daunting, but it is a task that many institutions are equipped to handle.
However there may come times when contact needs updating or adding.
For these situations we rely on cloud call centers with the latest technology in order to make sure all patient data stays up-to-date and accurate.
Hospitals are able to work with patients more effectively and efficiently through these cloud-based contact centers.
They enable the hospital staff as well as those who need help in setting up appointments, sending automated reminder emails or even billing questions if necessary; all from one platform.
Doctors can Easily Track Patient Data through Health Tracking Apps
The use of technology to track patients’ health data has given doctors an abundance of information that they can analyze.
Apps like My Fitness Pal allow people with no medical experience or training access into the world’s most sophisticated wellness management system.
These apps provide patients constant feedback on their progress throughout each day based on criteria set by them or their doctors.
Also, With the use of telehealth apps, patients can be treated remotely and avoid costly office visits.
This is demonstrated in Teladoc’s value-based system which helps them maintain their patient care without expending unnecessary time or money on travel expenses.
Telehealth companies are using this technology as an alternative for those who might not have access to quality medical services near where they live due either geographical constraints (i.) Or insurance coverage issues(ii).
Treat more patients with the right information using Wearable Health Monitors
The Fitbit surge has been a hot topic in recent years, with people not seeking medical care often using them.
However some providers have decided to adopt this type of technology for their patients’ health monitoring systems and experts noting “this will help intervention earlier at less cost.”
Healthcare will Continue to Evolve
The goal of value-based care is to find the best way to treat patients while also keeping costs down.
Many within the industry, however, hope that as more providers adopt these technologies and the value-based model altogether, we will one day see a system that is both effective for patients and cost-efficient for providers.
We are already seeing progress in this area and look forward to continued advancement in the years to come.
