How Always Health is changing patient education in orthopedics

Picture a common scenario in an orthopedist’s office: A patient has just been given a Cortisone injection to treat shoulder pain from a rotator cuff impingement, and the doctor is going over how the patient should care for the injection site, what signs of infection look like, and when to come back for a follow-up.

The patient is overwhelmed as he tries to absorb the doctor’s words while his numbed shoulder begins to throb. When he gets home, he finds that he can’t remember any of it and is now dependent on the badly photocopied brochure the doctor handed him. 

This patient’s experience is typical. Research shows that 85% of patients can’t explain much about their condition and their treatment options after they leave the doctor’s office. This lack of insight leads to patient dissatisfaction, anxiety, slower recoveries, and increased readmissions. 

Doctors are working to change this situation throughout the medical field, and orthopedics is no exception. One way to address patient recall is to offer better online resources. The American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons created OrthoInfo, to give surgeons a user-friendly website to provide their patients with reliable information on orthopedic conditions and treatments. Digital info-sites such as this help doctors communicate with their patients effectively and decrease the risk of medical misinformation. 

However, online literature is a traditional way to address a complicated problem. 

Always Health leverages the fact that orthopedics can be well-represented visually through 3D anatomic models. During a consultation using Always Health, doctors can pull up a model of the patient’s condition on a computer or iPad. The digital platform allows doctors to create their own images and videos using the interface’s draw-on-top tools and recording instructions specific to the patient. These images and videos are then saved for the patient to take home after their visit.  

Using interactive technology has been proven to increase patient outcomes.  In fact, one study on Always Health found that a major hospital system saw remarkable positive impacts using the software. In this study, 93% of patients found the information useful, 83% said that using the software helped ease their anxiety, and 75% reported the app helped them understand their condition and treatment options. 

Massive gains from a tool that easily fits into the clinical workflow is a win-win-win for patients, care teams, and administrators alike. 

Contact Always Health to find out more.