November 30, 2022 | Net Health

3 Minute Read

Patients Say Engagement Key to Getting Them Back on Track Toward Post-COVID Wellness

As we enter the final weeks of 2022, can we say with any confidence that the sun has set on another prominent period in our country: the COVID-19 pandemic?

According to statements by Dr. Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, the answer continues to be no.

“I think the idea that forget it, this is over – it isn’t,” he said in a recent interview.1

Yet, as case numbers have gone significantly down thanks to vaccinations, boosters and other precautions (i.e., masking, limiting contact, etc.), many now feel they can largely go about their lives with little disruption.

And based on new findings, most of us feel we have some catching up to do when it comes to personal health and wellness.

Healthcare Consumers Are Becoming More Proactive

According to a recent survey, 83% of healthcare consumers today say they’re ready to make health and wellness improvements in their lives.2

This, of course, follows a period during the heart of the pandemic when preventative care significantly dropped.3

This era of lockdowns and societal distractions resulted in a large portion of the population exercising less (61%), gaining weight (50%), maintaining unhealthy diets (42%) and experiencing a decline in mental health (39%).4

It’s no wonder, then, that of those who are ready for improvement, 37% say they plan to be more proactive about their healthcare.5

Such data suggests the time is ripe for you as physical therapists, occupational therapists and speech-language pathologists to actively engage these consumers, ensuring they choose your clinic as a stop along their paths toward better health and wellness.

Your ticket to succeeding in this effort? Establishing a proactive patient engagement strategy for your rehab therapy clinic.

Engage New and Returning Rehab Therapy Patients

Patient engagement is the combined efforts of a healthcare facility and its practitioners to increase activation – a patient’s knowledge, skills, abilities, and willingness to manage her or his own health – to promote positive patient care.

On other words, it’s about motivating and empowering patients with the information and tools they need to make the most optimal decisions about their own wellness.

The connection to the above survey is obvious. Right now, rehab therapists have an eager audience of people who say they’re ready to take action.

This represents an incredible opportunity. And, if you’re ready to capitalize of this opportunity, we’re here to help.

Our team of patient engagement experts recently released a free ebook for outpatient and private practice rehab therapists titled “5 Ways for Rehab Therapists to Reengage Patients in the Post-COVID Era.” In this ebook, you will learn:

  • What constitutes productive and proactive “patient engagement”
  • Why developing a patient engagement strategy is essential in earning an influx of new and returning patients
  • Five proven ways to reengage patients in a post-COVID era

Like so many other aspects of healthcare and marketing, patient engagement is something you simply cannot avoid. Whether you prioritize it or not, patient experiences will largely define your clinic and your brand over the long term, making a significant impact on outcomes as well as your bottom line.

Learn how to better harness positive patient engagement strategies for the benefit of your practice. Start by downloading our free ebook here.

5 Ways for Rehab Therapists to Reengage Patients in a Post-COVID Era

With the pandemic continuing to wane, 83% of healthcare consumers are ready to resume their health and wellness journeys.

Access Ebook

REFERENCES:
1 CNBC, “The U.S. is ‘Certainly’ Still in a Covid-19 Pandemic, Dr. Fauci Says,” Nov. 28, 2022
2 4 5 Patient Engagement HIT, “61% of Patients Want Better Patient Engagement in 2022,” June 20, 2022
3 JAMA Network, “Use and Content of Primary Care Office-Based vs Telemedicine Care Visits During the COVID-19 Pandemic in the US,” Oct. 2, 2020

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