Activating Patients through Dynamic Health Assessments

Delivering high-quality patient care involves a variety of steps, starting with assessment. Rather than simply serving as a diagnostic tool, assessments are an opportunity to gather valuable data while engaging and educating patients about their health. The initial data collected, which spans physiological, social, behavioral determinants, and lifestyle factors, lays the groundwork for later diagnosis and treatment planning. Both patients and healthcare providers reap numerous benefits from these screenings and assessments. For patients, they offer a chance to connect with a healthcare provider (HCP), assess their current health status, identify habits or behaviors they might want to change, and note symptoms to monitor.

Gaining insights into significant health behaviors encourages patients to take an active role in their care journey. Furthermore, regular screenings and assessments can lead to early detection of conditions, resulting in improved patient outcomes and cost savings for everyone involved. From the clinical perspective, using standardized screening and assessment tools makes it easier for HCPs to monitor and analyze health trends across individuals or populations. These tools also enable providers to swiftly and consistently pinpoint potential health needs, offering data-driven recommendations for further action. Additionally, screenings can highlight issues that may require patient referrals to other resources. An alternative method to facilitate this process is to allow patients to perform self-assessments. In such cases, healthcare providers can gather data in a cost-effective and time-efficient manner.

This self-assessment approach provides patients with autonomy over how and when they complete their evaluations; however, there are challenges associated with health assessment administration. While these assessments are a vital element of the care process, they come with hurdles. One challenge is the training required for accurate administration and analysis of the screening tools. If the data is not collected correctly or thoroughly, it may not be useful. Another significant issue is the heightened screening rates, largely stemming from the backlog of primary and preventive care. What used to be a two-week delay in screenings has now escalated to several months, raising concerns over the long-term effects and potential impacts on patient mortality.

These challenges have been further amplified by the COVID-19 pandemic. The cancellation or delay of appointments has significantly limited the chances for early detection and its associated benefits. Social isolation and economic downturns have heavily affected mental health, alongside a spike in the number of uninsured patients, increasing the demand for screenings. The rise of telehealth and virtual assessments has paved the way for innovative technology solutions that enable efficient assessment administration and patient support while enhancing overall patient engagement.

Simbo.ai serves as a digital gateway that effortlessly guides patients through their care journey. Several features set Simbo.ai apart as a leading solution for virtual patient support. Its advanced natural language processing capabilities allow patients to engage in casual conversations with the chatbot. Moreover, the omni-channel access facilitates extensive outreach to diverse populations across various communication methods and levels of digital literacy. This solution effectively addresses key challenges in assessment administration and the new barriers that have emerged during the COVID-19 pandemic.

With Simbo.ai, assessments are automated and carried out directly within chatbot conversations. This alleviates the pressure on nurses and healthcare providers to learn and implement screening tools. As a result, care teams can focus on building relationships with patients instead of spending additional time on administering assessments during visits. Employing a virtual assistant for these evaluations enables HCPs to maintain connections with patients who may miss appointments or cancel them. A cascade of reminders—via SMS, email, and calls—ensures that patients remain engaged throughout their care journey, prompting them to schedule appointments, attend screenings, and complete other health assessments.

The Simbo.ai solution also offers supplementary resources and suggestions within the chatbot to enhance response rates and re-engage patients. This includes answering frequently asked questions, easily accessible scheduling options, and symptom-checking support. For instance, since the COVID-19 pandemic began, Simbo.ai has assisted a major healthcare organization in administering a COVID-19 patient screener. By mitigating the risk of infected patients attending appointments or treatments, this screener promotes the safety of both healthcare providers and other patients. The Simbo.ai assessment is distributed through various channels—SMS, email, and phone—with engagement rates reaching around 70%. This demonstrates the effectiveness of streamlined communication and omni-channel access. Overall, Simbo.ai can help tailor campaigns that alleviate the burden of large-scale assessment administration for healthcare providers while actively engaging patients in a dynamic manner.