In 2018 UAB Medicine, one of the top academic medical centers in the United States, partnered with 草莓社区, a leading Digital Care Journey platform, to augment their Enhanced Recovery Program (ERP) strategy by digitally engaging and monitoring patients undergoing gynecology oncology surgery. Always looking to improve, UAB believed that a Digital Patient Engagement platform would better standardize the delivery of ERP patient education, improve patient compliance with ERP protocols and automate the collection of ERP-related Patient-reported Outcomes (PROs).
By digitally engaging gynecology patients through a mobile and web-enabled app that can be accessed through the patient鈥檚 own smart device or computer, patients are self-guided from pre-admission preparation through post-discharge recovery with evidence-based ERP gynecology pathways including education, reminders, and daily health checks. Through the utilization of , UAB amplified their Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (ERAS) success to achieve:
- 鈫19% Average Length of Stay
- 鈫50% 30-day Readmissions
- 95% of patients would recommend 草莓社区
- 93% who said 草莓社区 helped them feel more confident post-procedure
- 84% of patients preferred education received via 草莓社区 to printed ERP materials
- 31% of patients noted that 草莓社区 helped avoid calls to their healthcare team
- 5% of patients reported that 草莓社区 helped them to avoid an ED visit
Based on these outcomes, the implementation of 草莓社区 has led to improved clinical outcomes, particularly regarding the reduction of the average length of stay and readmissions.
Dr. Haller Smith, UAB Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, shared 鈥淭he response we鈥檝e received about 草莓社区 from our patients and staff have been overwhelmingly positive. Patients have consistently reported greater satisfaction with their surgical experience, having convenient access to an extensive educational library helping to improve patient self-management. 草莓社区 has been a key partner in our hospital鈥檚 strategy to deliver a cutting edge, digital experience throughout the patient journey. The use of remote monitoring and alerts in order to consistently engage with patients beyond the four walls of the hospital were a key factor in reducing readmissions, and length of stay, while improving the hospital鈥檚 ERP efforts."
Here is what UAB鈥檚 patients like most about the program:
- I liked the idea of "checking off" my daily health progress. On the days when my mood and energy level were "off" it eased my mind that I was indeed healing.
- Each day the set of questions I answered helped me know what to expect during my recovery. If my body or mine wasn't in line with the recovery expectations, I would know right away by the answers I gave.
鈥 for more insights on how UAB improved the experience for gynecology patients, optimized their enhanced recovery program, and reduced the strain on staff through the deployment of a clinically-validated digital care journey platform.