The HealthChangers podcast, recently recognized as a finalist for best podcast in PR News’ Platinum Awards, shares real stories of health care transformation, from those who are experiencing it and those helping to make health care more personalized. We aim to step back and see real people's stories at a personal level.
In this post, we’re sharing real, tangible ways that health care is changing for people, as highlighted in some of our favorite episodes.
1. Health care transformation can start at the kitchen table
An important piece of being an empowered consumer is having a conversation with loved ones about hopes, goals and care preferences in event of a serious illness. In “Having the Conversation,” we spoke with Ellen Goodman, co-founder of The Conversation Project, about tools to start these conversations at the kitchen table, not in the intensive care unit. “Social change often happens when people share their stories,” said Ellen.
2. Consumers, both young and old, are asking for digital engagement tools
In “How Millennials Are Changing the Health Care Industry,” we spoke with the next generation of health care leaders—our summer interns—to learn more about how the health care system can better engage with millennials. “I do not like to call people, I'd rather text, go online…to make it easier to access health care,” said one intern.
Surprisingly, seniors feel the same way. In “Innovation and Empathy in Medicare” we learned that adults 65 and older are actually online more during the day than millennials, and that they aren’t just asking for online tools, but rather expecting it.
3. Improving health care access can mean shifting care from the doctor’s office to the home…
Convenient health care doesn’t always have to happen in a doctor’s office. Brodie Dychinco, Cambia’s General Manager of Convenient Care Delivery, had his first experience with telehealth when his wife unexpectedly delivered their first child at home with help and instruction from 9-1-1. Brodie shares how this experience helped shape his work to strengthen the quality of services and patient experience through telehealth. Listen to the full story “Telehealth Aids Unexpected Delivery.”
4. …or simply helping people get from their home to the doctor’s office
While telehealth is a great option, sometimes improving access to care can be as simple as providing a ride to the doctor’s office. In “The Health Care Journey Starts with a Ride,” we learned about new technology tools like Circulation, a medical transportation platform that helps coordinate rides to and from hospitals, doctors' offices, and clinics.
“It seems small until you experience it for yourself,” said Circulation CEO Robin Heffernan. “But, if you're in the hospital, you're going to a dialysis appointment, or an oncology visit, or even some of these quick surgeries...it's long. You're tired. You finally finish your appointment, you're ready to go home. And to have to sit a few hours and try to coordinate scheduling of that right home is the last thing you want to do.”
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