This article is sponsored by Brightree. In this Voices interview, HME Business sits down with Jim Chiakulas, Senior Director, Strategic Initiatives and Business Development, Brightree, to talk about the evolution of patient-centered care and how DME providers can navigate the transforming landscape. He offers best practices for adopting a patient-centered approach and shares an outlook on where it’s headed as the home medical equipment space shifts into the future.
HME Business: What life and career experiences do you most draw from, in your role today?
Jim Chiakulas: I draw heavily from my diverse career experiences, including the time I’ve spent in both clinical settings and health care business operations. Understanding the intricacies of health care delivery, patient needs, and regulatory requirements — particularly through the implementation of value-based care — has been the cornerstone of my approach in my role today.
How has patient-centered care evolved over the last 10 years, and was it even a consideration back then?
Patient-centered care became a significant focus for providers, particularly in the 80s and 90s. This shift recognized that health care should be tailored more toward the needs and preferences of patients rather than solely focusing on disease treatment. Over the past 10 years, this concept has evolved, primarily through the integration of technology. For example, the adoption of telehealth and remote patient monitoring has facilitated more convenient patient interactions and ongoing monitoring.
Similarly, the increased use of EHRs has improved care coordination, access to patient information, and patient management. We’ve also seen a strong shift toward value-based care through the formation of Accountable Care Organizations (ACOs) and patient-centered medical homes. These models emphasize outcomes and patient satisfaction over the volume of services.
Finally, there is a growing emphasis on shared decision-making and enhanced patient engagement strategies. This has led to increased direct patient involvement and the rise of tools and resources such as patient portals, wearables, and mobile apps, which give patients more control and involvement in their care.
How can DME providers adopt a patient-centered approach to care?
There are several ways DME providers can adopt a patient-centered care approach. It really comes down to making strategic adjustments to services, operations, and interactions with patients. To accomplish this, a few key areas need focus.
One is personalizing equipment selection. Providers should work closely with patients and vendors to understand the patient’s unique needs and preferences for their equipment. Properly selected and utilized equipment can prevent complications and costly hospital readmissions, potentially reducing the need for more expensive treatments in the future.
Investing in patient education is also essential. This includes providing thorough training on how to use the equipment through inpatient demonstrations, user-friendly instruction manuals, and video tutorials.
Facilitating home-based care is another important focus. Supporting the delivery of home health services makes it easier for patients to receive care at home, which is more cost-effective, patient-friendly, and reflects a major trend in patient care today.
Additionally, DME providers should support chronic conditions through the use of devices such as CPAP machines for sleep apnea, nebulizers for respiratory conditions, and dialysis machines for kidney disease. These devices help patients manage chronic conditions effectively at home.
Finally, embracing artificial intelligence and decision support systems (DSS) can play a key role in enhancing patient-centered care. AI and DSS improve communication, coordination, access to information, and patient engagement.
What challenges can patient-centered care help solve versus traditional or provider-centered care?
Improving patient satisfaction and engagement is at the forefront. In traditional care models, patients often feel like passive recipients of care, which leads to dissatisfaction and disengagement. This, in turn, results in poor adherence to treatment plans and overall lower satisfaction with the care received.
In contrast, patient-centered care involves patients actively in care decisions, which increases their satisfaction because they feel more valued and understood. This approach also leads to better adherence to treatment plans and improved health outcomes.
Enhancing chronic disease management is another key area. Traditional care often focuses on episodic care, addressing issues as they arise rather than providing continuous, coordinated care. Patient-centered care emphasizes ongoing care and patient education, empowering patients to manage their conditions effectively. It encourages better collaboration between patients and providers, leading to improved disease management and outcomes.
Importantly, patient-centered care also helps reduce health care costs. Traditional, provider-centered models often lead to unnecessary tests, procedures, and hospitalizations, increasing costs without necessarily improving outcomes. Patient-centered care focuses on what truly matters to the patient, including avoiding unnecessary tests and interventions. It promotes preventative care, which can minimize or prevent costly downstream events like hospitalizations and emergency department visits.
Lastly, patient-centered care improves the continuity of care and care coordination. Traditional models often result in fragmented care, with patients seeing multiple providers and limited communication between them. This leads to gaps in care, duplication of services, and conflicting treatment plans. Patient-centered care emphasizes care coordination, ensuring that all health care providers involved in a patient’s journey work together. This approach creates a more seamless care experience, reduces the risk of errors, and improves overall care quality.
What would you say to providers that are hesitant about adopting this type of care, and what best practices can they employ to overcome barriers to adoption?
Any provider hesitant about adopting patient-centered care should consider the broader trends in health care and the potential benefits of this shift for their business and their patients. Why does it matter? Primarily, we’re seeing the industry shift toward value-based care, and patient-centered care is at the heart of this shift.
To overcome barriers to adoption, providers should start with investing in staff training to ensure their team is well-versed in patient-centered care principles. Regular training sessions help keep staff updated on best practices and emerging trends in patient care. Educating patients on how to use their DME effectively and safely is also critical, as is providing clear instructions, demonstrations, and follow-up support to enhance patient confidence and satisfaction with their equipment.
Incorporating tools like remote patient monitoring and telehealth services into offerings is another important step. These technologies enable continuous, personalized care, helping patients manage their conditions more effectively. Providers should also utilize data analytics to track patient outcomes and satisfaction. This data helps identify areas for improvement and demonstrates the value of a patient-centered care approach to payers and regulators.
Enhanced collaboration with other health care providers, such as physicians, nurses, and therapists, is essential for integrating DME into the patient’s overall care plan. Establishing information-sharing protocols ensures all members of the care team are informed and can coordinate care effectively. Conducting a cost-benefit analysis can also shed light on the financial impact of adopting a patient-centered care approach. Often, long-term benefits like improved patient outcomes, reduced hospital admissions, and an enhanced reputation will outweigh the initial investment.
Finally, exploring reimbursement opportunities within value-based care payment models, such as bundled payments, shared savings programs, or quality incentive payments, can further support the adoption of patient-centered care.
Where do you see patient-centered care 10 years from now, and how do you think it will evolve?
I think we’ll see continued and growing integration of advanced technologies like AI and machine learning, as they enable more personalized and predictive care. Additionally, remote patient monitoring and telehealth will likely expand, supporting access to care by providing real-time monitoring of patients in their homes. Patients will also increasingly contribute to their own health data through wearables, devices, apps, and patient portals.
We can expect policy and payment reforms that further promote patient-centered care, which will be closely tied to ongoing shifts toward value-based care. I believe the regulatory bodies and payers will implement policies that mandate greater patient involvement in their overall care planning and delivery.
Finish this sentence: “In the home medical equipment space, 2025 will be defined by…”
… the increased integration of value-based care models, the expansion of remote patient monitoring and telehealth technologies, and a heightened focus on patient-centered care and health equity. This shift will largely be driven by regulatory changes, advances in technology, and the ongoing demand for cost-effective, personalized health care solutions.
Editor’s note: This interview has been edited for length and clarity.
To learn more about how Brightree can help, visit Brightree.com
The Voices Series is a sponsored content program featuring leading executives discussing trends, topics and more shaping their industry in a question-and-answer format. For more information on Voices, please contact [email protected].