How Relias Can Support Your Patient Access Initiatives

In healthcare, ensuring patient access is crucial for delivering quality care and improving health outcomes. However, many individuals face barriers that prevent them from accessing the care they need. To address these challenges, healthcare organizations are focusing on initiatives to provide equitable healthcare services to all.

With Relias, organizations can engage patients to understand root causes, make improvements, and support their unique patient access initiatives. In this article, we highlight four ways Relias clients are leveraging our XM solution to improve patient access.

Appointment reminders and missed appointment outreach

Appointment reminders and missed appointment outreach not only improve patient punctuality and reduce no-show rates, but also demonstrate an organization’s commitment to patient access and satisfaction. A robust patient experience platform should provide:

• Appointment reminders
• Missed appointment outreach to understand barriers and help patients reschedule
• Proactive messages to promote facilities near a patient’s address
• Personalized engagement to learn about patients’ needs for extended appointment hours (such as weekends and evenings)

Resources, education, and care reminders

By providing clear and accessible information, education, and resources, healthcare providers empower patients to actively participate in their care, enhance their understanding of health conditions and access support programs or offerings. Organizations can leverage:

• Messages with links to support resources, programs, or education
• Outreach to patients with specific diagnoses to make them aware of relevant healthcare resources
• Proactive care outreach, such as asking patients if they have filled prescriptions, made follow-up appointments, and understand post-discharge instructions

Community engagement

One effective approach to improve patient access is forming patient advisory councils or focus groups where patients can voice their concerns, share their experiences, and provide feedback on access-related issues. These insights can guide the development of patient-centered solutions and policies that enhance access for all and address systemic issues contributing to patient disparities. With Relias, you can:

• Use survey feedback to identify people for your advisory council
• Send out advisory council invitation surveys
• Send community engagement surveys with questions relating to your initiatives

Recommended reading: Best Practices for a Successful Patient and Family Advisory Council (PFAC)

Advanced analytics

Relias enables healthcare providers to gather valuable data on patient preferences, needs, and access barriers and analyze that data using EHR identifiers. If organizations are looking to develop effective strategies for improving patient access, it is essential to understand the root causes of the barriers. Barriers can include financial limitations, geographic issues, lack of transportation, language differences, and cultural differences. By analyzing the data, organizations can make informed decisions to improve access for specific populations, allocate resources effectively, and tailor their interventions appropriately.

A comprehensive solution

Improving patient access requires a multifaceted approach that prioritizes equity. By leveraging Relias’ XM solution, organizations can eliminate barriers to care, promote valuable resources, engage their community, and improve access to care for all individuals. Through these efforts, we can create a healthcare system that is equitable, patient-centered, and accessible to everyone.