The best platforms understand that a human-centered approach to care is today’s priority. They re envision the healthcare experience, offering care and interventions that are unique to each person’s specific needs.
Keep reading to explore some of the critical features that enable the best holistic digital health platforms to succeed.
Determining User Preferences
Today’s patients want ongoing access to details regarding their healthcare, no matter where they are. And they want a supportive, personalized approach to monitoring it and making changes that boost their wellness.
To meet these patient expectations, holistic platforms must conduct user research to learn about behaviors, habits, and other factors that contribute to how patients can benefit from a platform. Platforms must determine their target market, as well, to help inform design and content decisions.
Platforms must be user-friendly, with dashboards that can be navigated by those even with low tech literacy.
For platforms serving users hoping to improve their health, providing definitions and succinct explanations of care options is critical. And for platforms catering to those with a lot of tech savvy, real-time chats can engage users right away to offer discrete and efficient support.
A platform focused on holistic mental health solutions, for example, could suggest relevant therapists given a user’s area of need, as well as offer personalized and evolving guidance on sleep or nutritional adjustments. Platforms that meet users where they are and refine care plans over time will have the greatest impact.
Tailoring Interventions
Today’s medical platforms have to go beyond generic recommendations and content to emerge from the pack. And that means investing in a higher level of specificity known as bio-personalization, which uses an individual’s lifestyle, health, and preferences to generate recommendations.
Remember that whole-person care considers all aspects of an individual as connected elements, including both physical and mental health. Thus, holistic care can cover everything from nutritional recommendations to preventative screenings and sleep management.
The best platforms recognize how many external and internal forces can impact someone’s health, and they’re designed to capture as much information about a person as possible. They can glean insights from genetic data that may include a person’s risk of certain diseases, ancestral heritage, or likely response to certain drugs.
A user’s behavioral traits, exercise levels, and stress management are among the other pieces of information that can help create more unique interventions. Additionally, data pulled from wearable health devices can shed light on sleep patterns, glucose levels, or heart rates. When reviewed in conjunction with (EHRs), platforms can formulate more precise interventions.
Reaching More People
Holistic health platforms must be able to extend their reach to diverse populations. This means creating user interfaces that can help those without technical literacy, robust language skills, or significant financial means.
In some cases, it may make sense to pair in-person services with those offered remotely through the platform, especially in underserved areas. Helping users find in-person assistance to cover basic needs will help support their efforts to improve physical and emotional health.
Platforms should offer support for those speaking different languages and demonstrate cultural sensitivity in the content they share, too.
From a financial standpoint, platforms should partner with employers to offer lower pricing rates or offer payment plans that can make their services more affordable. Holistic care should be available to everyone, regardless of their income status or privilege.
Creating an Excellent User Experience
Digital health platforms need to integrate smoothly with EHRs, wearable devices, and other portions of the healthcare ecosystem. That way, it’s easier for users to be directed to critical interventions without miscommunications or long waits.
Users don’t want to waste time hunting down past test results and uploading tedious information. They want an easier option where information can be shared across platforms, enabling quick access from their smartphone.
Uniting everything in one digital space where users can check medical records, book virtual or in-person appointments, and get medication reminders gives platforms an edge.
Creating a Sustainable Business Model
For holistic digital health platforms to succeed, they need scalability written into the business plan. That means the best platforms tap into automation and build partnerships to expand their reach across employers and health systems. And, of course, they can do this without neglecting to offer quality care.
With automation, platforms can use chatbots to answer common questions and direct users to online resources. They can simplify check-ins and scheduling. And they can use AI to gather information on symptoms before suggesting the next steps.
And to stay relevant, platforms must find ways to keep costs from becoming a barrier. Trying monthly subscriptions or referrals, for instance, can attract users willing to give a particular platform a try without a lengthy commitment.
Working with health systems and employers can generate stronger visibility and help secure lower rates for employees and patients.
Further, long-term success hinges on a shared sense of trust. For individuals concerned about sharing too much personal information online, platforms need to offer transparent assurances about their practices.
They should outline privacy policies and indicate compliance with HIPAA. Additionally, given ongoing concerns about ethical uses of AI, platforms should commit to using AI only for its intended purposes to streamline processes. Explaining these efforts to users in a familiar language and a respectful tone can help build trust.
Building a Holistic Future
With growing demands for convenient health solutions, holistic health platforms fill a critical niche. But for a platform to succeed, it needs to pay attention to the details. Platforms must offer personalized solutions and guide individuals through user-friendly dashboards and explanations.
