Measuring Practice Success and Patient Care:
eConsults Help Manage Social Determinants of Health
Eric Urquiza, Sr. Vice President of Operations & Client Experience at AristaMD
Identifying health inequities, which are often driven by Social Determinants of Health, can help the practice manage risk and reduce the burden of care for your patients. Increase access for patients who face challenges associated with:
- Genetics, including populations that require additional preventive screening.
- Environmental Factors, like economic stability and transportation
- Health Care — Patients without insurance and covered by Medicare or Medicaid
- Individual Behavior
Your patients’ health is also determined by:
- Access to jobs and food
- Support available in their homes
- Work safety
60% of health-related outcomes are directly correlated to the social, environmental, and individual behavior of the patient.
These inequalities are worse when patients are:
- Minority
- Low-income
- Speak limited English
- Live in rural areas
To measure and reduce inequality driven by social determinants of health:
- Identify which patients are most likely to be readmitted to the hospital because of:
- Limited access to transportation
- Lack of family or social support
- Determine if language, disability or region will impact your patient.
- Consider appropriate health monitoring, preventive screenings, and vaccines
Offering eConsults and other services, like vaccines, in your office can reduce inequality for these patients.
Explore the Role of Patient Education in Ensuring Individuals Understand the Importance of Referrals and Their Options
In today’s complex world of healthcare, it’s more important than ever for people to have the knowledge they need to make wise decisions about their well-being. Patient education is a key part of this process, and it’s about more than just passing along information. It is important to know how educating patients is vital in helping them truly grasp the reasons for referrals and their array of healthcare choices.
eConsults in Lieu of a Referral
Educating patients about eConsults is vital, as it enhances access to specialized care by offering a quicker and more cost-effective alternative to traditional referrals. eConsults are effective at reducing long wait times and can potentially save both patients and the healthcare system money.
eConsults empowers patients to make informed decisions about their healthcare, minimizing unnecessary referrals, and aligns with patient-centered care principles by ensuring individuals have a say in their healthcare journey and choose the most suitable mode of treatment. Ensuring patients are aware of the possibility of eConsults not only streamlines healthcare processes but also gives the patient control again.
Eric Urquiza
Sr. Vice President of Operations & Client Experience at AristaMD
Eric has 20 years of experience driving transformational healthcare IT programs, advancing patient care, improving access and outcomes for patients through technological solutions. He has been successful in leading many strategic client relationships and increasing provider adoption of telehealth solutions, ultimately leading to strong efficacy for underserved populations throughout the country. Eric holds a Master of Business Administration from the University of Redlands.