Empowering patient self-management through telehealth

Lindsay Dymowski Constantino: ©Centennial Pharmacy Services

Self-management is not a new concept in healthcare. For as long as doctors have practiced, patients have partnered with them to improve care outcomes.

An expectant mother, for example, will take steps to eat well, stay hydrated, and avoid alcohol and other substances considered to be dangerous to the development of her child. Her self-management plays a key role in ultimately experiencing a healthy delivery.

However, self-management has become more challenging as health care has become more complex. Today’s health care system is more fragmented than it has been in the past, forcing patients to keep up with care prescribed by a team of specialists rather than just a single doctor. Additionally, more detailed diagnoses lead to more complicated care regimens, resulting in a long list of medications and other treatments patients must manage.

For patients struggling with self-management, telehealth offers solutions by creating new ways to engage that make the care process less taxing, less costly, and more effective. The following are some of the key ways telehealth empowers better patient self-management.

Telehealth makes educational resources more accessible

Optimal self-management starts when a patient first becomes aware of their symptoms. Finding reliable information to explain their feelings helps dispel fears while waiting to see a doctor. Without that information, patients can experience elevated stress and anxiety that make matters worse.

Telehealth portals allow patients to get reliable information while they wait for a diagnosis. They can point patients toward a preliminary diagnosis, which helps patients know the true implications of their condition and, when necessary, seek urgent care. Telehealth portals can also explain what patients should expect as they begin treatment, allowing them to prepare both physically and mentally for what lies ahead.

The educational materials telehealth portals provide have become more valuable as health information on the internet has proliferated. Tapping into “Dr. Google” can be confusing and overwhelming, especially for patients who are anxious about the symptoms they are experiencing. Information found online can also be misleading, as it is often posted for the purpose of selling products.

Telehealth portals also provide information in a way that allows patients to protect their digital privacy. Using Google to obtain information on conditions or treatments can trigger unwanted and unnerving online tracking. Accessing information through telehealth portals provided by a patient’s practitioner eliminates that risk.

Telehealth empowers personalized skill development

Once a diagnosis is made, patient self-management can require developing particular skills. For example, a patient diagnosed with a new condition may need to learn the terminology related to caring for that condition. If mediation is involved, they must know when and how to take it. Patients asked to engage in physical therapy at home, such as range of motion or strengthening exercises, may need instruction videos or graphics to guide them on properly completing their treatment.

Telehealth tools serve as an excellent resource for helping patients develop those types of personalized skills, thus streamlining the process by adding a curated mix of information to the patient’s personal portal, making it easy to tap into helpful information. These tools can also provide information in a variety of formats — video, graphics, checklists — and make it available whenever and wherever (at home, at work, on vacation) the patient needs it.

Where physical therapy is required, telehealth can facilitate online sessions where professionals teach patients how to carry out their exercises properly. Where medication is required, telehealth can provide personalized reminders based on the specific dose schedule for the patient’s unique prescriptions. In both cases, chat features can help patients immediately get clarification when online explanations don’t answer all their questions.

Telehealth enables remote monitoring and feedback

The primary caveat of self-management is that its solitary nature can make it a struggle for patients, especially for those dealing with chronic illnesses. Telehealth fixes that problem by creating a pathway for remote monitoring and feedback.

Interactive treatment plans are one tool that patients can access via telehealth. These plans are personalized for the patient’s specific regimen, allowing them to connect as often as necessary and indicate when they have taken the required steps. If patients fall behind, health care providers can be alerted to the need for contact and encouragement.

Telehealth can also drive better self-management by giving patients a tool for providing feedback on treatment results. If treatment doesn’t have the expected effect or new symptoms or side effects develop, telehealth allows patients to quickly and easily connect with providers to report the situation, empowering them to play a key role in charting their progress and refining their treatment to achieve the best results and overall outcomes.

The current health care landscape, where patients face more issues and doctors are more difficult to find, makes patient self-management more critical than ever. Telehealth provides the tools for patients to confidently practice self-management by giving them the knowledge and support they need to take control of their health and well-being.

Lindsay Dymowski Constantino is the President of Centennial Pharmacy Services, a leading long-term care-at-home pharmacy, and co-founder of LTC@Home Pharmacy Companies, which supports the pharmacy and broader healthcare industries by providing long-term care pharmacy services in the home setting. With over 15 years of experience in the pharmacy field and a strong entrepreneurial spirit, Lindsay enables better health outcomes through patient-centric care and has a deep understanding of what drives successful pharmacies beyond medication dispensing.