Communication Strategies Must Include Caregivers, Too

The following is a guest blog post by Chelsea Kimbrough from Stericycle Communication Solutions, as part of the Communication Solutions Series of blog posts. Follow and engage with them on Twitter: @StericycleComms Millions of healthcare-centric communications occur every day between providers, doctors, professionals, patients, and caregivers. These communications are often focused on the patient. This is a great thing, as the patient is the individual in need of care. Frequently, however, communication strategies are developed to meet patients’ needs and don’t truly consider how to best engage caregivers. At one point or another, most of us will act as a caregiver for a child, spouse, or parent. We may even be responsible for coordinating multiple patient journeys at once. And should that responsibility come, we’ll likely find the best experiences with healthcare organizations that not only provide excellent patient care, but convenient communications. According to the National Alliance for Caregiving and AARP, 48 percent of caregivers are 18 to 49-years-old. And as this population ages and more young individuals step into the caregiver role, more caregivers will have been raised in homes with Internet access, smartphones, and more. In order to create caregiver-friendly experiences, healthcare organizations should ensure their communication strategies are mobile-optimized, technology-driven, and readily accessible. Already, caregivers are seeking out ways to simplify c...
Source: EMR and HIPAA - Category: Information Technology Authors: Tags: Healthcare Healthcare Communication HealthCare IT Patients Chelsea Kimbrough Communication Solutions Series Health Care Communications Patient Experience Stericycle Stericycle Communication Solutions Source Type: blogs