In our most recent blog post, we discussed the importance of collecting patient consent in order to better support patients throughout the specialty medication onboarding journey. But capturing patient consent is only one small piece of the broader patient engagement opportunity.
In this blog post, we explore the importance of actively involving patients in the specialty medication enrollment experience and beyond, and how technology can enhance engagement for better patient outcomes.
The MedAccess Journey’s In-Person Engagement Opportunity
The specialty medication enrollment process contains a variety of steps, from paperwork to benefits verification, and financial assistance to fulfillment selection. In most cases, specialty medication success relies on consistent adherence – making ongoing engagement essential. Fortunately, each one of these steps presents a new opportunity to engage patients – since each has historically been completed with no patient involvement.
When a patient is in a provider’s office, there is an immediate opportunity to engage face-to-face regarding enrollment forms, consent collection, medication cost, and more. With access to digital enrollment forms in a matter of seconds – without searching manufacturer websites or printing out paper forms – providers and medication access teams can input patient-provided answers in real-time. Further, when patient signatures are needed, digital consent capture technology can make acquiring signatures a breeze, and enable a conversation about the benefits of hub services and ongoing engagement throughout the medication journey.
Additionally, the prevalence of real-time benefit check technologies and foundation search capabilities help providers have conversations with patients about the cost of care and what additional options are available for fulfillment or support. Ensuring patients understand their treatment plan, its cost, and alternatives is essential to ongoing medication adherence. By engaging patients in person – with the power of integrated, real-time technology – teams have the best opportunity to make shared decisions, enhance patient trust, and drive better outcomes.
The Power of Messaging and Meaningful Notifications
In order to provide additional transparency and drive engagement beyond the provider’s office, patient portals and messaging can be beneficial. Sophisticated technologies can automatically trigger communication via SMS or email, while notifications can be presented to give end-users visibility into any hurdles or appropriate next steps.
The enrollment process has historically been quite opaque, creating uncertainty and questions for patients throughout. With added communications and resources available, patients can appreciate knowing that an enrollment form has been accepted or a prior authorization has been approved. Continuous updates on enrollment status can also keep patients informed about potential delays, changes in treatment plans, or next steps.
By keeping the lines of communication open, healthcare providers demonstrate their commitment to patient-centric care and help manage expectations effectively.
Personalized Technology for Patient Engagement
As mentioned, digital platforms enable seamless communication between patients and healthcare providers, as well as the support staff who manage medication initiation. With these tools, patients can access their enrollment status, review treatment plans, and receive timely updates from the comfort of their own home.
Importantly though, this type of technology must support personalized engagement. Automated reminders, tailored educational resources, and interactive tools empower patients to actively participate in their care, which can be especially meaningful for someone who may be starting a difficult medication journey. Whether it is regarding their care plan, coverage status, affordability options, or pharmacy location, personalized technology solutions offer a secure and efficient means of engagement, ensuring that patients have the information they need and can be supported throughout their unique MedAccess journey.
This new way of thinking about personalized care coordination can eliminate many of the access hurdles that arise downstream. Once consent is given and engagement is initiated, various team members – providers, office staff, and manufacturer hub services – can work in unison to clear a prior authorization, re-enroll a patient in an assistance program, or write a new prescription when necessary. The entirety of the healthcare ecosystem benefits from initial and ongoing engagement – since communications to drive adherence can improve patient health and reduce downstream costs.
Where We Go From Here
Patient engagement is not merely a buzzword; it’s an essential aspect of successful specialty medication enrollment and, ultimately, improved patient outcomes. Collecting patient consent, maintaining open and real-time communication, and leveraging personalized technology to support engagement are key strategies in achieving this goal.
By actively involving patients in their care journey, we can empower them with resources and help them have a voice in treatment decisions. This partnership between patients and providers should be a priority, ensuring that the specialty medication process is not only transparent, but aligns with what is best for the patient.
In the ever-evolving specialty medication landscape, patient engagement has been historically challenging. But with innovative technologies and cross-functional partnerships, it is possible to facilitate true patient engagement and positive outcomes.
