FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE June 15, 2019

QC-Health®, Inc., is a cause-driven benefit corporation formed on June 15, 2019. QC-Health® is dedicated to improving patient outcomes by helping providers solve an indefensible problem: Patients often do not follow the optimal care plan.

While there are many reasons why health care might diverge from established evidence-based care plans, QC-Health® addresses a significant factor: Patients typically can’t recall what their care plan is when they get home. The burden of following up on their care plan often becomes the patient’s responsibility—whether they are ready or not.

“Unless patients or their families become actively engaged in the care plan, their care can easily become a series of clinic visits that don’t meaningfully impact outcomes,” said Stacey Richter, co-president of QC-Health®.

Provider organizations can improve clinical efficiency, quality metrics, and patient satisfaction if they improve this care plan challenge.

The conundrum is deeper than advising physicians to explain a care plan’s next steps in the exam room. “Patients only remember about 15% of what is said. Yet somehow, we expect that 15% to be enough for them to carry out a self-care regimen, obtain and take medications, get tests, and make follow-up appointments,” explains Dave Dierk, co-president of QC-Health®.

Often, the patient doesn’t realize something is unclear until they get home or can’t recall the information. The exam room is a very stressful place. Even smart, proactive people forget to ask important questions. “It’s just asking for the Tx [treatment] plan not to be followed,” tweeted Jamie Roger in a Health Tech Reads chat about this topic.

To help providers help their patients in following evidence-based care plans, QC-Health® offers Outcome Guided Engagements® (OGEs®). OGEs® help relieve “care plan confusion.” These pop-up windows display a well-curated set of information sheets and/or videos. The intent is to give providers exactly what patients need to be prepared and educated before, during, and after treatment, which ultimately improves patients’ experience and outcomes. Providers can use the information to counsel patients, then print out, email, or send the materials to their practice’s patient portal.

“It is certainly true that some care plans are uniquely individualized,” said Stacey Richter. “But very frequently, there is one evidence-based approach with which few would disagree. For example, there is a correct protocol to diagnose many conditions, to follow up after prescribing a medication or therapy, and to help a newly diagnosed patient find financial assistance, peer-support communities, and/or creditable sources of disease information. This type of information, which is so often overlooked or considered a ‘nice-to-have,’ is essential for any and every service line looking for optimal patient outcomes and satisfied patients.”

“The trick is,” added Dave Dierk, “for providers to be able to easily access these resources at the point of care.”

QC-Health® OGEs® are offered FREE to nurses, doctors, case managers, and others working hard every day to improve the lives of their patients. OGEs® are EHR agnostic and do not require a BAA or Health System IT department to use.

If implemented at the organizational level, OGEs® help provider organizations lift their clinical efficiency and consistency, improve quality metrics and patient satisfaction, and attenuate administrative burdens, which will lead to happier, more effective clinical staff members.

At this time, QC-Health® is actively seeking sponsors and partners to provide clinical expertise and/or financial support. QC-Health® would like to hear from key medical societies, clinical teams, or patient advocacy organizations looking to advance the standard of care for patients with a certain condition as well as life sciences companies whose products depend on the timely diagnosis of appropriate patients and appropriate follow-up.

QC-Health® is also developing employer solutions called QC-MyMeds™ programs. These easy-to-implement programs are designed for employers to help their employees and families better manage their disease and medication utilization in a confidential manner. The programs identify and support the management of employees and their families at risk for chronic diseases. Physicians and their patients are provided with recommendations to address the risk, support tools, and referral/counseling options. Current programs include opioid alternatives and diabetes.

For further information, listen to Stacey Richter, co-president of QC-Health®, discuss the importance of bridging the engagement gap and the state of patient information on The #HCBiz Show! at aventriahealth.com/thehcbizshow.  

Learn more about QC-Health® by visiting QC-Health.org.

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