Why is Patient Engagement Necessary?
The ever-changing healthcare environment has gone through multiple phases of electronic conversion with the introduction of Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health Act (HITECH). EMRs have become a household name and most practices now employ e-prescribing along with electronic lab interfaces. Electronic health information exchange offers significant cost savings for the healthcare industry and end consumers, as the processes are streamlined and overall efficiency is improved. “The healthcare industry has come to the realization that there is value in connected care. By integrating activities across the care continuum, the end product ‘care’ can be improved significantly” , says Keith Smith, a health IT consultant. However, the main purpose of the healthcare structure is to assure longer life spans and healthier patients. To achieve these goals, the healthcare community must be able to undertake the responsibility of promoting preventative care measure