Note to readers: This is the first post in our six-part Powered by Partnerships series exploring a targeted four-channel approach to digital health.
The Xealth team met with a customer the other day about creating a digital health program for maternity patients. The goal is clear: to ensure an expecting mom gets all the information she needs, in one place, at one time.
The conversation went like this:
Xealth: So we understand you want to invite the patient to download the maternity app after her second prenatal visit?
Health system digital care team: Yes
Xealth: Do you have any other materials, like PDFs or videos, that she will receive at the same time?
Care team: Well, yes, but that is handled through the patient education team.Xealth: Can we get them from that team and include it in one outreach, instead of lots of different ones?
Care team: (sighs) Well, it’s really a different department.
Why is “digital health” often handled by different departments that don’t talk to each other? How does this internal disconnect look from the patient’s perspective?
If you are wondering which health system this is, it isn’t just one – this story has played out multiple times over the years.
A lot can be learned from old-school marketing when it comes to patient care interaction and communication. In short, we are trying to reinforce the care provided by clinicians and enable and persuade patients to be active participants in managing their own care.
Marketing has a similar goal—persuading people to act. But marketers create multi-channel campaigns. There might be a TV commercial, billboards, website ads, email campaigns, and even radio ads. All these channels communicate the same message and objective—get the consumer to do something.
In digital health, the idea is to reach different patients in different ways since one size doesn’t fit all. It has the potential to get patients to do things when channels and vendors are used together. At Xealth, we have deployed millions of digital assets and tools for around 30 health systems. We see the main channels as:
- Digital Programs: These are downloadable solutions usually designed to help patients manage their own care.
- Patient Communication and Education: PDFs and videos ranging from a “welcome to the health system” video and PDFs of maps and directions to more clinical information about the diagnosis and potential treatment options
- Remote Patient Monitoring (RPM) and Virtual Care: Typically involving two-way communication and data flow from the patient back to the health system
- Services, Transportation, Product Delivery, and More: These are programs that go above and beyond, such as transportation or DME ordering and delivery
Any one of these categories can be somewhat effective on its own, but imagine if combined?
What Makes Xealth the Expert on This?
The Xealth platform seamlessly connects healthcare providers with a robust digital health ecosystem of around 70 vendors, enabling the delivery of personalized, efficient, and effective patient care without involving more people from the health system.
For many health systems, Xealth combines solutions across these areas to create the best solution for various patient groups to engage patients in their care before, during, after and in between visits with their care team.
Let’s take a deeper dive and delve into examples of what is included in these categories.
Digital Programs
Digital programs, such as pathways, offer solutions for maternity, chronic disease management, mental health support, and more.
Here is a selection of some of our partners that have supported optimal healthcare outcomes in these areas and others.
Babyscripts: A risk detection program to drive better clinical decision-making and access to care for pregnant and postpartum patients
MedBridge: An evidence-based home exercise program to keep patients active and engaged in their rehabilitation
PatientIQ: A cloud-based software platform and patient engagement technology that automates the collection of patient-reported outcomes
SilverCloud: An online self-help platform that offers mental health and well-being programs
Twistle by Health Catalyst: A text-based app with health system-catered messaging workflows
These apps provide personalized care, enabling patients to manage their health conditions effectively and efficiently.
Patient Communication and Education
Patient education is vital to digital health. It empowers patients with the knowledge and tools they need for more autonomous care management.
Through interactive modules, educational videos, and shared decision-making tools, our partners’ patient education solutions deliver relevant content to the right patients at the right time and include useful analytics for providers.
Custom Content!
Elsevier: Accessible health information improving patient’s knowledge and skills needed to help manage their care.
Emmi by Wolters Kluwer: Online programs that walk patients through important information about a health topic, condition, or procedure.
Healthwise (part of WebMD Ignite): Health content and patient education for health insurance companies, care management companies, hospitals, and consumer health websites
KidsHealth: Creates pediatric education (online, video, and care instructions) for young children, teens, and parents
WebMD Ignite (fka Krames): Comprehensive health education content solutions that promote healthy behaviors and motivate patients throughout their health journey.
These solutions foster informed decision-making and better adherence to care plans.
Remote Patient Monitoring (RPM) & Virtual Care
Remote patient monitoring (RPM) and virtual care solutions revolutionize healthcare delivery, offering real-time monitoring and support for various health conditions.
We’re proud to partner with the following:
Glooko: Connecting diabetic patient’s device data directly to their care team
Linus Health: A platform that provides digital cognitive assessments, actionable clinical decision support, and personalized patient plans to help providers find and act on cognitive issues early.
NeuroFlow: A mental wellness platform that allows clinical professionals to monitor patients’ behavioral health and deliver personalized treatment plans
Rimidi: A cloud-based software platform that enables personalized management of chronic cardiometabolic conditions across populations
VeeOne: A virtual care platform with a common patient and provider interface throughout the entire continuum of care that supports a variety of conditions
VitalTech: A virtual care solution that uses a cloud-based platform and Bluetooth-enabled devices to treat patients at home
These tools facilitate early detection, timely interventions, and enhanced patient engagement, ultimately improving health outcomes.
A portion of vendors in this space are helping health systems manage the flow of patients where they have limited capacity or where patients have a qualified benefit.
- Omada
- Rula Health
- Ksana Health
- Cadence
Services, Transportation, Product Delivery, and More
Going above and beyond the clinic or hospital can be incredibly valuable for certain patient populations or scenarios.
Our partners encompass many initiatives, including transportation assistance, housing support, and food security programs.
Foodsmart: A telehealth program with a network of registered dietitians, complemented by a digital app with tailored meal planning tools and an integrated food delivery marketplace
Medline: The nation’s largest privately-held manufacturer and distributor of medical supplies, providing products, education, clinical programs, and services across the continuum of care
Robust nutrition services and food delivery systems help achieve holistic care.
Season Health: A food-as-medicine platform that enables people with chronic conditions to eat well and live well
By integrating services into the digital health ecosystem, healthcare providers can deliver more comprehensive and equitable care.
Balanced and Consistent Patient Information Delivery
While digital health tools offer numerous benefits, there is a risk of information overload and confusion for patients.
To mitigate this, healthcare providers must adopt strategies that personalize communication, control the timing and frequency of information delivery, and maintain consistent brand messaging.
Personalized communication ensures that patients receive relevant and timely information, enhancing their engagement and adherence to care plans without overwhelming them.
Unified branding and messaging are essential for building trust and credibility within the healthcare system. Consistent messaging from health systems – NOT a doctor’s personal email address – reinforces professionalism and reliability.
By leveraging a multichannel approach across the four digital health categories, healthcare providers can effectively target diverse patient populations and deliver personalized, comprehensive care.
To learn more about how Xealth’s ecosystem can enhance your healthcare delivery, request a demo today.