John Asalone: Can Digital Health Improve Access to Healthcare?

Can Digital Health Improve Access to Care?

August 2024

As the CEO of Amino Health, a digital care guidance platform that connects members to high-quality, low-cost care, I am keenly aware of the transformative potential digital health holds in improving access to care. The critical question we face is whether digital health can truly enhance access or if it merely shifts existing barriers. Based on our experiences and research at Amino Health, I believe digital health can significantly improve access by addressing several key areas:

1. Objective Insights: Enhancing Trust and Utilization

One of the significant barriers patients face is the lack of objective information about provider quality and experience. Traditionally, patients have had to rely on word of mouth or subjective online reviews, which can be inconsistent and unreliable. Digital guidance platforms like Amino Health provide patients with objective insights about providers, enabling them to make informed decisions. By leveraging data on provider quality and experience, we earn member trust, increasing the likelihood that patients will seek care and adhere to their provider’s guidance.

This transparency helps patients find providers that better match their needs, reducing churn and the need to switch providers frequently. As a result, patients enjoy more continuity in their care, leading to better health outcomes and overall satisfaction.

2. Finding the Appropriate Care: Matching Patients to the Right Providers

Digital guidance platforms also play a crucial role in advising members on when to seek generalist versus specialist care. Many conditions can be effectively treated by nurse practitioners or other lower-cost care options, which can be more convenient and have shorter wait times compared to specialists. This approach not only reduces costs but also improves patient experience by ensuring timely access to care.

When patients have positive experiences with the healthcare system, they are more likely to seek care promptly in the future, preventing minor issues from escalating into more serious health problems. By guiding patients to the right providers from the start, we prevent unnecessary visits to unsuitable providers, freeing up system capacity and improving overall efficiency.

3. Benefit Utilization: Simplifying Access to Care

One of the challenges members face is navigating their employer’s benefits programs. Highly integrated care guidance platforms like Amino can drive better utilization of existing benefits, which members might otherwise be unaware of. By programming an employer's entire benefits program into a single search box, we dramatically simplify the process of finding care.

This streamlined access ensures that members can easily discover and utilize the benefits available to them, enhancing their overall healthcare experience and ensuring they receive the care they need without unnecessary delays or complications.

4. Convenience Drives Access: The Role of Timely Appointments

Our research at Amino Health indicates that if patients cannot book care in a timely manner, they often delay seeking care, leading to higher long-term costs and worse health outcomes. To address this, we partnered with Zocdoc and CVS MinuteClinic to enable digital bookings for over 100,000 providers, with most appointments available within 24-72 hours.

By simplifying the scheduling process, we help patients gain timely access to care, preventing delays that could exacerbate health issues. This convenience not only improves access but also encourages patients to seek care promptly, ultimately reducing the overall burden on the healthcare system.

Conclusion