Here’s a telling stat: Hospital readmissions cost Medicare, Medicaid, and self-insured employers $180 billion Per year. Why do we spend so much on readmissions? More importantly, why are so many people readmitted? Unfortunately, many of the processes that help patients continue their recovery confidently and safely at home are fragmented.
When a person is admitted to the hospital, their care team focuses on diagnosing and treating the problem that led to the admission. But hospitalization isn’t everything. People often leave the hospital unaware of their own recovery status or how to continue treatment outside the hospital. Many are ill-equipped and ill-prepared to continue their recovery at home.
Hospitalization can disrupt a person’s physical and emotional stability, and leaving the hospital can be a time of extreme anxiety and vulnerability. Going into this vulnerable time alone with little preparation can lead to a series of challenges leading to what some doctors say “post-discharge syndrome. “During this period, people face an increased risk of setbacks that could lead to readmissions, worsening health and death.
Rehabilitation Coach and Augmented Intelligence
One way to address this is to hire a rehabilitation coach, a behavioral health coach who specializes in transitions of care. They are experts in supporting an individual’s unique behavioral, social, environmental and medical needs in an approach known as “whole person care”.
Rehabilitation coaches work one-on-one with people who have experienced major health changes, such as hospitalizations or new diagnoses. A recovery coach can support a person on their emotional journey, help them with their daily activities related to recovery, and motivate them to change their behavior for better recovery.
Democratizing rehabilitation coaching programs can be a game-changer to improve health outcomes. For this, we need affordable, high-quality and personalized programs. This is where technology can help.
Medical technology innovation is advancing at breakneck speed. Analytics enables providers to spot trends that might otherwise be overlooked; data enables efficient and effective support through a personalized approach; and artificial intelligence such as natural language processing, speech biomarkers, and predictive algorithms can save time and improve care.
Many healthcare organizations are already using AI-based solutions to address issues ranging from medication non-adherence to cost management issues. New concepts and uses of artificial intelligence are emerging in the field every day.
AI algorithms built to provide so-called “augmented intelligence” could be particularly beneficial.This AMA uses the term Augmented Intelligence In mentioning “artificial intelligence focused on the auxiliary role of artificial intelligence, emphasizing that its design enhances rather than replaces human intelligence”. The concept has already been applied to create AI algorithms that look for patterns in patients’ speech and create meaningful notes for clinicians, allowing them to focus more on building real relationships.
Upcoming AI technologies will help diagnose a variety of conditions such as depression or heart failure. Companies like Headspace have started building AI algorithms to enhance their behavioral health coaches and personalize the experience they deliver.
For rehabilitation coaching programs, enhancements offer possibilities such as creating automated mental health screening tools, identifying gaps and risks specific to individual members, and personalizing education to members’ learning styles. All of these tools will help increase the frequency of early detection and effective intervention.
The recovery journey is broken today, but a rehabilitation coaching program with enhanced intelligent support can dramatically reduce readmission rates and improve overall health and patient experience. As coaching programs grow in popularity, the question remains how best to scale them. Augmented intelligence makes it possible.
