How Patient Engagement Apps Are Changing the Face of Patient Care

Healthcare apps continue to experience huge growth, positively accelerating recovery, reducing readmission rates and improving patient experience.

With engagement apps, patients can access important health documentation, watch explainer videos and engage in healthcare questionnaires or surveys.

Plenty of healthcare apps grant easy access to them on one platform — ideal for patients and staff alike. In fact, 77% of health IT leaders are investing in enhanced patient portals or mobile apps to improve patient and staff experiences. 

So, how are patient engagement apps changing the face of patient care?

1. More options for entertainment and connection
2. Reduced costs
3. Better education for patients
4. Full visibility for patients
5. Improved patient experience

More options for entertainment and connection

Patient entertainment apps offer a diverse range of content, catering to various interests and preferences, ensuring patients remain engaged and content during their hospital stay.

From television shows, movies and interactive games to newspapers, magazines and eBooks, these apps provide a plethora of entertainment options to suit individual tastes. 

Whether a patient enjoys immersing themselves in the latest blockbuster film or prefers to unwind with a captivating novel, there's something available to keep them amused and mentally stimulated throughout their stay.

With apps like Skype, Messenger or Hangouts, patients can also see and speak to friends and family, keeping that vital line of connection open. This not only fosters emotional support but also alleviates feelings of loneliness and isolation, which are common experiences during hospitalisation. 

Facilitating regular interactions with friends and family contributes significantly to the overall well-being and psychological comfort of patients, fostering a sense of belonging and support during challenging times.

Reduced costs

One of the biggest benefits of implementing patient engagement apps is the reduction in cost for NHS Trusts. The annual cost of hospital food waste for the NHS is £230 million, equating to 39% of the total food budget. 

Going digital and linking a meal to a patient means that if they move beds or wards, their meal will be actioned accordingly — whether that’s a cancellation or redirection, depending on the situation. 

As a critical part of patient engagement, entertainment apps have also reduced the cost of physical magazines and newspapers. Having healthcare information easily available on an app means fewer physical resources, such as printed patient records, are necessary.

Not only can digitisation help reduce costs for the NHS, but it can also reduce costs for patients. Through access to free or subsidised entertainment options such as movies, games and educational content, patients can find solace and distraction during their healthcare journey without incurring additional expenses.

Health apps facilitate rapid communication, reducing the need for time-consuming phone calls or manual paperwork, allowing medical personnel to allocate more time to patient care. Nurse call apps enhance responsiveness to patient needs, leading to quicker interventions and potentially preventing adverse events. 

Through optimised workflows and enhanced coordination, these technological solutions contribute to operational efficiencies, ultimately driving down costs associated with inefficiencies and errors in healthcare delivery.