Patient engagement is critical to success–particularly in treating chronic medical conditions such as heart disease, diabetes and asthma.  In this era of healthcare reform and cost-containment we must now, more than ever, rely on patient participation in their own care.  Studies have shown that when patients play an active role in the management of their disease, hospitalization rates and complications are minimized.

Examples of “engagement” include daily recording of blood pressure and heart rate, blood sugar logs, daily exercise logs, and the like.  Engagement requires that patients not only partner with their physicians during office visits but take individual responsibility for their own healthcare—showing up three times a year as a passive participant in the office visit is not nearly enough.

Read more: http://drkevincampbellmd.wordpress.com/2014/01/13/patient-engagement-and-improving-outcomes-tweeting-for-success/

See on drkevincampbellmd.wordpress.com