Access to Care

Drug Formulary Exclusion Lists Reduce Patient Access to Treatment

by Sara Heath

Drug formulary exclusion lists are getting longer, making it more difficult for patients to access the medications and treatments they may need to manage their illnesses, according to a recent study...

Exploring Open Access Scheduling in Patient Access to Care

by Sara Heath

The elusive same-day appointment is top-of-mind for healthcare organizations who are looking to increase convenience and patient access to care. Using open access scheduling processes, facilities and...

Understanding Physician Shortage Issues, Patient Care Access

by Sara Heath

Patients often face several barriers that hinder patient care access, ranging from ability to pay for the care encounter to obtaining transportation to the doctor’s office. But now a new barrier...

Patient Pre-Registration Tips for a Quality Consumer Experience

by Sara Heath

Patient pre-registration is a key strategy for improving the onboarding and intake process, which can often get bogged down with complicated data collection and administrative tasks. By collecting patient intake materials ahead of the...

Strategies for Rural Patient Healthcare Access Challenges

by Sara Heath

Amidst the sweeping plains and endless farmland of rural America, residents face a pressing and pervasive problem. With providers so few and far between, patients face considerable difficulty accessing healthcare. According to a leading...

Addressing Language Barriers in Patient-Provider Communication

by Sara Heath

Meaningful patient-provider interactions are at the heart of a valuable clinical encounter, allowing providers to fully engage patients in the healthcare experience. But in an increasingly diverse...

What is the Difference Between Urgent Care, Retail Health Clinics?

by Sara Heath

Urgent care and retail health clinics have been instrumental in supplementing patient healthcare access. These alternative treatment facilities allow patients to receive care outside of their primary...

What are Healthcare Navigators, Patient-Centered Care Benefits?

by Sara Heath

Healthcare navigators are like the industry’s version of a car GPS. They help patients get from place to place in a healthcare system that can often be difficult to understand. But unlike GPS,...

3 Factors Swaying Patient Decisions for Treatment Facilities

by Sara Heath

In the age of healthcare consumerism, patients are increasingly activated in their own healthcare. This includes in making decisions for treatment facilities at which patients wish to receive their...

3 Steps to Improving Appointment Scheduling for Patients

by Sara Heath

Ensuring seamless appointment scheduling for patients is a critical part of getting patients in the office door and engaging with their healthcare. However, healthcare organizations are falling short...

Overcoming Patient Barriers to Chronic Disease Management

by Sara Heath

Improving adherence to chronic disease management and treatment plans is a critical facet of improving outcomes and keeping costs low. In order to engage patients, communicate efficiently, and help individuals achieve their wellness goals,...

Understanding Stigma as a Mental Healthcare Barrier

by Sara Heath

Despite the millions of patients managing a mental illness, very few are accessing treatment. Stigma and negative perceptions associated with mental illness are noted mental healthcare barriers for...

Patient Engagement Strategies for Post-Discharge Follow-Up Care

by Sara Heath

Follow-up care after the discharge process is an important part of improving patient outcomes. In order to successfully guide patients through their recovery, providers must employ the same patient engagement strategies that have been...

5 Patient-Centered Strategies to Improve Patient Safety

by Sara Heath

Patient safety is a key aspect of patient-centered care and is tied to the patient experience and health outcomes. However, all too often healthcare professionals view patient safety and...

Patient Knowledge Impacts Use of Urgent Care, ED Services

by Sara Heath

Patients need more education to help them determine whether to access care in urgent care centers or the emergency department, according to a survey by New York City-based urgent care provider...

How Out-of-Pocket Costs Affect Patient Healthcare Access

by Sara Heath

Patients are increasingly facing high out-of-pocket costs, a trend that can limit their healthcare access and ability to pay for quality services. It is important for providers to understand how high...

What Providers Should Know to Improve Patient Access to Healthcare

by Sara Heath

Patient engagement, consumer satisfaction, and patient access to healthcare are three of the most critical pieces of the value-based care puzzle. As outcomes, satisfaction, and patient loyalty become more important to financial security...

Patients Still Struggle to Access Mental Health Care at VA

by Sara Heath

More than a third of veterans struggle to access mental health care within the VA system despite a high prevalence of post-traumatic stress disorder, according to a recent survey from the Wounded...

How Hospital Environments Affect Patient Satisfaction Levels

by Sara Heath

Hospitals should take a three-pronged approach to improve patient satisfaction and patient experience, according to the American Hospital Association (AHA). In a new publication, Improving the Patient...