Redefining Digital Health: How a Different Approach Can Get Manufacturers Closer to Patients

Today’s guest post comes from Mary Roberts, Vice President of Business Development at EnvoyHealth, a subsidiary of Diplomat.

Mary describes the next generation of patient services and explains how manufacturers can use new digital health tools to get closer to patients.

Visit envoyhealth.diplomat.is/innovative to learn more about using technology to enhance patient services and differentiate brands.

Read on for Mary’s insights.

Redefining Digital Health: How a Different Approach Can Get Manufacturers Closer to Patients
By Mary Roberts, MPH, Vice President of Business Development, EnvoyHealth

In the past 48 hours, chances are you have reviewed an aspect of your health on a digital device. Perhaps you checked your steps or sleep cycle on a wearable. Or maybe you used a wellness app to track a dietary habit.

This manner of health engagement, known as “digital health,” is intended to get manufacturers as close to patients as possible (unless we’re talking about ingestibles, which is a completely different story as medication ingestion “systems” enter the market).

The Current State of Digital Health

Today, a limited version of digital health has become common among patient services providers and technology companies. This approach focuses on technologies such as electronic benefit verification (eBV) and electronic prior authorization (ePA). These well-tested, improving services meet the recurring need to understand coverage requirements as patients begin therapy.

Texting is another common digital service. But this largely enables one-way transmission to patients. At its best, texting enables a simple yes/no interaction.

Digital health services today primarily get manufacturers closer to the payer by understanding coverage requirements—only sometimes helping them get closer to the patient. They create a good but fractured experience.

EnvoyHealth’s Approach

At EnvoyHealth, we believe that these digital health technologies are important utilities for supporting patient access and engagement. However, they in no way represent a true digital health experience for the most important stakeholder—the patient. We believe this experience can now be unlocked given:

• Broad consumer access to digital products
• Technology companies’ focus on disease-specific management (vs. population health)
• Industry players’ belief in the value of innovation and true digital health

That’s why EnvoyHealth is focused on redefining digital health within patient services. Our connected-care model focuses on removing friction from the patient experience to simplify every engagement—supporting patients through traditional means while delivering engaging information to them in ways they want to receive it. Here’s how it looks:

1. A patient is enrolled in and welcomed to the manufacturer’s services program.
2. Coverage and affordability are determined using an electronic (eBV, ePA, etc.) or call-based approach.
3. The patient or their caregiver is invited to participate in the full connected-care experience, which can include a wearable, mobile app, or artificial intelligence–based texting platform tailored based on the program and patient preferences.
4. Real-time or self-reported data are shared to support better care management and patient engagement.
5. Targeted messaging, coaching, or reminders based on the patient’s individual needs are delivered through the wearable, app, or non-traditional texting.

We believe in a connected-care model that seamlessly blends traditional patient access services with innovative technologies for simpler and effective patient engagement. Through our technology platform, patient-focused heritage, and network of digital partners, EnvoyHealth can create a meaningful experience that differentiates your patient services and brand.

For more information on our current capabilities visit envoyhealth.diplomat.is/innovative. Connect on LinkedIn with EnvoyHealth and Mary Roberts to learn how our solutions can bring your branded patient services to the next level.

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