Five Radnor Corporate Center
100 Matsonford Road, #5-444
Wayne, PA 19087
United States of America
Toll-Free: (866) 762-4455
Main Fax: (888) 452-6512
Artificial intelligence (AI) and other emerging technologies are revolutionizing the way people work and shop, among other things. And healthcare benefits are no exception. AI has the potential to change healthcare benefits in numerous ways, resulting in positive outcomes for both employers and employees. The integration of new technology into platforms and processes can help employers, their partners, and their employees achieve smarter, better, faster healthcare.
In a competitive job market, employers who embrace healthcare technology innovations and how this technology can improve the healthcare benefits landscape will have more attractive offerings to recruit and retain talent.
How Healthcare Technology Can Transform Employee Care
Healthcare technology can have a large impact on employee care. Here’s how:
1. Personalization
Choosing benefits isn’t the easiest thing to do. Healthcare can be confusing, and on top of that, determining what level of insurance employees need for the next year and understanding what each tier of insurance offers can feel overwhelming.
Healthcare technologies can make it easier—and less overwhelming—to choose care. Through omnichannel engagement, technology can meet employees where they are in their healthcare journeys with personalized education about their options, improving the overall member experience. For example, employees can answer questions about their healthcare needs, and technology can provide personalized benefits suggestions to make the decision process easier.
The result? Employees are more engaged and empowered to make well-informed healthcare decisions, with increased participation in benefit choices and care.
2. Prediction of Health Trends
Healthcare technologies are useful for predicting health trends by analyzing data to identify patterns and then predict patient outcomes. AI also enables providers to make more precise diagnoses, which allows them to improve treatment plans for patients, leading to reduced downstream costs.
Additionally, with the use of predictive modeling and data analysis, healthcare technology can identify high-risk members who may be more likely to experience negative outcomes based on their lifestyle factors, health status, medical history, and demographics. This enables providers to ensure equitable care for all and prevent health disparities. Additionally, providers are better able to intervene proactively with a targeted treatment plan and preventive care.
As a result, patients receive necessary support for chronic health conditions and become more involved in other facets of their healthcare. By using predictive analytics to target therapies and address high-risk patients, providers are also able to help employees (and their employers) reduce long-term costs.
3. Improved Outcomes
Healthcare technology can help improve communication between providers and patients, thus reducing errors and creating a personalized treatment plan. Care navigators, like those accessible through NaVcare, the intuitive navigation solution from Vālenz® Health, can also help improve patients’ overall healthcare journey with a program personalized to each employer and member.
Care navigators are an essential component in improving the care experience for patients. They help patients navigate the confusing healthcare environment, taking on time-consuming and difficult tasks, such as researching providers, making appointments, and more. They are a helpful resource for patients throughout their entire care journey and ensure that members are receiving the right care from the right providers.
Additionally, care navigators can help empower members to make better healthcare decisions, leading to improved outcomes, an enhanced experience, and controlled costs. Helping members navigate this complex system and getting them more involved in their healthcare improves care access and helps members overcome barriers to high-value, timely healthcare. This patient-centered approach can help manage symptoms earlier, leading to fewer hospital readmissions or complications.
4. Informed Healthcare Decisions
Healthcare navigation tools that provide critical information about cost and quality are critical to helping employees make well-informed decisions. Before an employee even schedules an appointment, they have the necessary information they require on cost and quality to ensure they’re receiving high-quality care at a fair price. This helps prevent surprise costs and increases patient satisfaction.
Healthcare Bluebook™, now a part of the Valenz platform of solutions, offers a green-yellow-red tool that makes it easy for employees to find the best provider and healthcare facility in an easy-to-use solution. Employees can search by physician, facility, or procedure to find care that meets their needs and then evaluate the results in the color-coded rankings display. As a result, benefits costs decrease, member satisfaction increases, and outcomes improve.
Choose Healthcare Technology That’s Right for You
Healthcare technology offers many benefits for employers and employees alike—and determining what you need in a solution and finding one that’s the right fit for your organization can be challenging.
Connect with Valenz to learn how incorporating technology into your employee health benefits early and often can help facilitate smarter, better, faster healthcare.