Harnessing Personal Technology to Empower Health Care Consumers
By Laurel Lee
Vice President, Member and Community Engagement
Molina Healthcare of Washington
Original Publish Date: November 8, 2016
Technology is radically changing our daily lives. We now click, scroll and swipe our way to get data, connect with friends and make purchases – all in a matter of seconds. As personal technology infiltrates the health care industry consumers are able to take charge of their health care using helpful tools designed to make information more accessible and care more streamlined and efficient.
Mobile technology ownership has reached nearly every segment of American society, making it easier than ever before for patients to engage in their personal health. From scheduling appointments to 24-hour online access to personal health records and Skyping with a doctor for urgent care needs; the growth in smartphone ownership is driving rapid innovation in the way health care consumers access care and interact with providers.
According to a study released by Pew Research Center in 2015, approximately 68 percent of US adults have a smartphone and this trend is common across socio-economic levels and ethnic groups. It’s estimated that 87 percent of adults who earn $75k+ own a smartphone and approximately 52 percent of adults who have an income of < $30K are smartphone owners.
Given the advantages mobile technology brings, the Federal Communication Commission (FCC) has taken steps to address the digital divide for low-income consumers. In 1985 the FCC established the Lifeline program to ensure that qualifying low-income consumers can afford phone service and the opportunities and the security it provides. In March of 2016, the FCC approved rules to modernize Lifeline enabling subscribers to access smartphones in some areas and also to purchase discounted broadband from participating mobile phone vendors.
Molina Healthcare is embracing the power of personal technology to offer its more than 700,000 members in Washington innovative ways to partner in their personal health and wellness.
My Molina - Personal Portable Health Record
Molina’s secure portal gives members greater control over their own health, with helpful tools, convenient access to their medical information and much more, 24/7. Molina recently launched a pilot program that expands the functionality of its member portal to support integration of care and continuity of care for members with complex needs. Members can access the portal via the website or mobile app, see their medical records and invite specialty care providers, caregivers and others to join their “Extended Care Team”. Care team members can connect with each other on the portal to collaborate on treatment and care plans. The program aims to eliminate care fragmentation by facilitating communication amongst care team members and by empowering members to make informed health decisions.
Molina Virtual Care
Molina is also harnessing personal technology to improve access to urgent care after hours or whenever members can’t see their doctor. Like an electronic version of a house call, Molina virtual care brings 24/7 health care solutions to our member’s home or wherever they may be. Providing access to care when a member cannot see their primary care provider saves on unnecessary trips to the emergency room and gives them the care they need when they need it. Molina is offering virtual care to all Apple Health (Medicaid) members in Washington through Washington-based doctors and nurse practitioners. “Having an urgent care option 24/7 empowers members to get immediate care for minor conditions and feel better until they are able to see their PCP,” said Frances Gough, MD, Chief Medical Officer at Molina. Virtual care providers help members make follow-up appointments with their PCPs, and provide a visit summary to the member and provider to prevent care fragmentation. The aim is to integrate virtual care into the PCP’s broader care continuum, expand available services in rural areas and ensure patients are directed to appropriate care.
By continuing to explore new ways to integrate technology in health care delivery, we can harness the power of personal technology to raise the quality of health care, lower costs and empower consumers to be engaged in managing and improving their health.
Visit the Molina Healthcare of Washington web site at www.molinahealthcare.com/members/wa/en-US/Pages/home.aspx.