The COVID-19 pandemic brought on many changes in our society; one visibly noticeable change is the rise in telehealth visits. Virtual healthcare is quickly becoming the norm for both providers and patients. According to one survey, more than 60% of people would now consider receiving ongoing virtual care, including pre-surgical appointments and post-surgical follow-ups. Employers also seem to agree, as another survey found that 90% of employers feel that telemedicine will be important in providing access to care for primary, behavioral, and specialty care. Read on to learn more about the importance of health education content in virtual care settings.
The Importance of Health Education in Virtual Care
Health education is a vital element of any interaction between provider and patient; however, when the consultation takes place during a virtual visit it can prove challenging to ensure that all information is understood. Because of this, effective educational materials that the patient can understand must be provided.
Health education is essential in virtual care settings because:
- Patients do not receive physical, printed materials during a virtual care visit, so it is important to ensure the successful delivery of education through another channel.
- The risk of miscommunication may be higher with telehealth visits.
- A patient’s attention may be divided in a virtual care setting. It is vital to provide aftercare resources for them to refer to after the appointment.
Benefits of Leveraging Patient Education in Virtual Care
Improved Health Outcomes
When individuals can count on patient information, it can help them to better understand not only their condition but possible treatment options. In turn, this can lead to improved adherence to treatment and improved health outcomes.
Convenience
Education content for patients should be accessible from anywhere, at any time for optimal convenience. This reliable access can be particularly important for patients who live in rural areas, are unable to travel, or have trouble attending in-person appointments.
Increased Patient Engagement
Reliable and trustworthy patient education content can help engage patients in their own healthcare journey. An educated patient can become more invested in their health, taking a more active role.
Tips for Delivering Virtual Health Education
When sharing patient education, it is important to ensure that this education is not only high quality but easy to understand. Below are some best methods to follow to ensure that your health education content is effective.
Take Advantage of Interactive Multimedia
In virtual care settings, providers are not bound to physical handouts. Because of this, they can leverage multimedia learning, which includes video and interactive tools to boost the patient learning experience. Visual learning materials such as physical therapy videos can be effective in teaching patients how to care for conditions at home, in their own time. Additionally, these learning materials should also be available in multiple languages to cater to people around the world. Together, these offerings can help to boost health literacy among patients.
Track Education Delivery and Views
Because education is virtual, it is important to track which educational materials patients have received and if they have engaged with them. With Santovia’s platform, patients can see when the patient has accessed the educational content and providers can keep track of that information in the patient record.
Allow Sharing
In some instances, patients may need to share digital content that is related to their healthcare journey with family members or caregivers.
Ensure Effective Education Materials
Lastly, education should be evidence-based and easy to understand.
Learn More Today
At Santovia, our healthcare education is based on proven, evidence-based information so patients can feel confident in their patient education materials. To learn more about how Santovia can transform the virtual patient education experience or request a demo, visit www.santovia.com today.
