During a care episode, providers traditionally deliver treatment through a series of independent, face-to-face interactions. For patients, however, the care episode begins prior to these interactions and continues during and after medical appointments or hospital stays.

In other words, face-to-face interactions are only one part of a patient’s care continuum.

Meaningful patient-provider interactions are increasingly important during the pre-op preparation phase of total joint replacement, one of the most common and costly surgeries in the U.S. today. Patients need to know what to expect and how to best prepare for the surgery and recovery period ahead. Miscommunication and forgotten instructions can lead to day-of-surgery cancellations, which have a significant impact on the provider’s bottom line.  

Ongoing patient-provider interactions throughout the entire episode of care can help prevent a surgery cancellation. These interactions are most effective when supported by direct patient activation technology, which educates, engages and satisfies patients at critical points along the care episode.

The benefits include significant improvement in the clinical metrics tracked at both hospitals and the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS).

Here’s a look at how one mid-size healthcare system is using direct patient activation technology to improve orthopedic metrics.