title: Four steps for improving the consumer healthcare experience across the continuum of care.
abstract: In response to 2 articles recently published in The American Journal of Managed Care, "Characterizing Health Plan Price Estimator Tools: Findings from a National Survey" (February 2016), and "National Estimates of Price Variation by Site of Care" (March 2016), by Higgins et al, this editorial details best practices that healthcare organizations should employ in an effort to improve pricing transparency, enhancing patient engagement, and ultimately change patient behaviors to improve patient outcomes. Specifically, this article details a fourfold framework to help healthcare organizations, including both payers and providers, to understand consumers across the spectrum of care. As a part of this, key ways of leveraging technology to observe, segment, and communicate with patients to elicit positive behavioral change and improved outcomes, are discussed.
authors.affiliation: Change Healthcare Engagement Solutions, 216 Centerview Dr, Ste 300, Brentwood, TN 37027. E-mail: engage@changehealthcare.com.
authors.forename: Keith
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Roberts
mesh_terms: D022126:Access to Information; D003258:Consumer Behavior / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D003266:Continuity of Patient Care / Q000458:organization & administration*; D003365:Costs and Cost Analysis; D003695:Delivery of Health Care / Q000458:organization & administration*; D005260:Female; D006285:Health Planning / Q000458:organization & administration; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008329:Managed Care Programs / Q000191:economics / Q000458:organization & administration*; D017060:Patient Satisfaction / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D015397:Program Evaluation; D011785:Quality Assurance, Health Care; D014481:United States