Participatory healthcare: Putting people in the driving seat

Communication is key

So, what would people need in order to take an active role in managing their own health? Simply put, they need to be well informed and equipped with the right tools.

It starts with effective communication. At Nortal, we have extensive experience in designing and implementing mobile solutions that allow patients to engage with healthcare providers or insurers. For example, we developed a paperless e-prescription solution in Germany that allows people to manage their prescriptions digitally. We also built a mobile application for an insurance company in the UAE to provide seamless engagement between patients and the insurer.

These solutions encourage patients to be more involved and give them more control; communication between healthcare providers and patients is intuitive and in non-medical lingo, so that trust can be built. As a result, patients are more likely to adhere to a treatment plan and take a more proactive role in advancing their wellbeing.

Our work also includes designing and implementing centralized, digitized national health records systems in several countries including Lithuania, Estonia and Finland, which can be securely accessed by healthcare providers and patients through user-friendly portals. These solutions facilitate easy implementation of care pathways and, with the support of predictive analytics, can be personalized with relevant information and push notifications for preventative measures such as planned consultations or vaccinations.

A proactive culture

Digital solutions such as mobile patient portals and lifestyle trackers encourage individuals to take more responsibility for their own health. This in turn encourages a more proactive culture. When patients are well informed and participate in decision making about their health, they are more engaged and more likely to have better health outcomes.

Participatory healthcare can go even further by encouraging patients to get involved in improving the system by contributing to research and, with the help of digital tools, become active health ambassadors in their community.

Data security

Digital solutions that encourage patient participation must be secure and trusted, and this is why robust data processing governance is at the heart of our work. Role-based access control systems, consent-based processing management and enhanced security are standard components of our solutions.

Patient-centric care results in a more positive experience for patients. They feel heard and valued, and care and communication are personalized and relevant. This in turn strengthens the trust relationship between patient and healthcare provider. There are also clear benefits for governments and healthcare providers in terms of cost control and efficiency; the integration of electronic health records with remote e-prescribing in Lithuania, for example, improved patient adherence to prescribed medications and reduced unnecessary outpatient visits for reactive care by 25%.