The ability to leverage patient-reported outcomes (PROs) data is directly dependent upon patient participation. If patients do not self-report, the quality and quantity of data an organization has will be minute. Because of this, a key component of any healthcare organization’s patient outcomes strategy must be improving and maintaining patient compliance rates.
For example, University of Missouri Health Care (MU Health Care) sought to collect PROs on every patient to facilitate outcome measurement and continuous quality improvement. However, patient compliance was a challenge. Because of this, MU Health Care began a comprehensive patient compliance initiative.
Prioritizing Patient Compliance – MU Health Care
MU Health Care took a step-by-step approach to improving patient compliance:
1. Identify the factors that motivated or inhibited compliance
For example, the system found surgical patients were inherently more compliant with self-reporting than other patients because providing answers directly tied to the care they would be receiving. Because of this, new or returning patients not undergoing a surgical procedure would likely require additional encouragement to complete PROs.
2. Provide multiple opportunities for patients to self-report
MU Health Care recognized that patients would need to be contacted outside of the four walls of the organization, and reminded more than once, to provide the necessary information. Additionally, because not all patients would have access to technology to complete PROs outside of the clinical setting, MU Health Care determined that part of its collection effort would need to take place on-site.
3. Engage clinicians in the process
The health system recognized that patient compliance was directly tied to patient understanding – if a patient did not understand why it was necessary to provide the requested information, they were less likely to do so. Additionally, compliance rates would improve if the ask came from or was supported by patients’ providers. To incentivize provider participation, the system began a patient compliance competition, monitoring compliance rates by provider and recognizing the provider with the highest patient compliance rates.
The Results
By taking a comprehensive approach to patient-reported outcomes compliance, MU Healthcare saw improvements in compliance rates, PRO measures, and provider engagement.
For example, the system has collected more than 1.5M patient-reported outcomes and obtained a 88% compliance rate for non-surgical patients and an 81% overall patient compliance rate. It also saw notable improvements in HOOS Jr., KOOS Jr., ODI, and NDI PRO performance measures.
PatientIQ and Patient Compliance
As stated by Theodore Choma, MD, Orthopedic Surgeon at MU Healthcare and the Patient Compliance Competition Winner with a 95% compliance rate:
“PatientIQ enables my team to easily monitor patient progress, assess the impact of my treatment decisions, and ensure we are consistently providing evidence-based care to our patients.”
If you’re looking to strategically improve patient compliance, we can help. Learn more about the MU Health Care story or contact us directly to learn more.
