Providing medical care in rural communities can present some unique challenges. Top physicians often aren't willing to relocate to rural communities, and the people who need access to care may be spread out over a large geographic area so access to a single health facility may not be feasible. Designing effective care management plans is critical for the success of healthcare agencies who operate within rural areas.
Here are three types of interventions that you can use to help make your rural care management plan more effective in the future.
1. Offer provider incentives.
Working with medical providers can be one of the most challenging components of establishing a successful care management plan. You can help get providers aligned with your plan's goals by incentivizing their participation.
Once you have established your goal (better preventative care, fewer hospitalizations, etc.) you can offer providers a monetary incentive for helping you reach your goal. The lure of a cash benefit will encourage rural medical providers to perform services and order tests that maybe they normally wouldn't, helping your care management plan become more effective in treating rural patients.
2. Promote telemedicine.
Rural communities are often sparsely populated, with residents spread out over many miles. The distance between households can present a unique challenge for medical agencies trying to create successful care management plans. In order to provide better care without disrupting or inconveniencing the lives of rural residents, you can try offering telemedicine as an intervention measure.
Telemedicine allows individuals to receive basic medical care via telephone or video chat. Using technology to promote better care can make it easier for patients to interact with providers, allowing your care management plan to be more successful in increasing the level of health within your rural community.
3. Offer self-management education.
Good health is the result of a series of positive decisions made by a patient over the course of his or her lifetime. One intervention measure you can implement when trying to increase the success of your care management plan is the introduction of self-management education.
Hosting workshops teaching patients how to design a healthy diet or monitor their own blood pressure will allow you to increase the level of health your rural patients enjoy. Sending out educational brochures and pamphlets through the mail can also be an effective way to offer self-management education.
Medical agencies can create successful care management plans by intervening with both providers and patients to improve health. Try some simple interventions like provider incentives, telemedicine, and self-education to make your rural care management plan more effective in the future. Click here for more information.
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