Supportive care services drive better adherence and preventive care

Every day, patients fall behind on their care plans, not because they’re unwilling, but because of overlooked barriers like transportation, medication access, and home support. These roadblocks can delay care, worsen chronic conditions, and increase health care costs. But hiding in plain sight is the solution: supportive care services.

Supportive care services help patients navigate the health care system by eliminating obstacles to access and promoting medical adherence. Services like non-emergency medical transportation (NEMT) and device-enabled virtual care management, which leverages signals from remote monitoring devices to enable the delivery of care virtually, including virtual care management, 24x7 vitals monitoring, and health education/navigation, are designed to help vulnerable populations living with complex health conditions access the care they need, when and where they need it.

Supportive care models that integrate transportation and device-enabled virtual care management consistently improve outcomes for patients with complex needs. These models meet people where they are, physically and digitally, helping close the adherence gap and support earlier intervention. Because of their semi-regular touchpoints with patients, physicians play a critical role in making patients aware of these options, helping them access tools and services they might not otherwise know are available.

Leveraging a variety of supportive care services

Transportation remains one of the most underestimated barriers to care, with over 3.5 million people across the country delaying or skipping appointments because they lack a ride. Vulnerable populations, including older adults, people living with disabilities, and communities of color, are especially affected. Delayed care often worsens conditions, burdening both patients and their care, with higher healthcare costs. Reliable transportation through NEMT services empowers patients to keep routine appointments, follow through on referrals, and stay engaged in their care. NEMT services help patients get to these appointments, but also to the pharmacy to pick up medication and to a referred specialist’s office following any potential warning signs. NEMT plays a vital role in connecting patients to care before a serious issue emerges.Because many of these services are covered by insurance, primary care providers are often the first to help patients understand what’s available.

For patients managing chronic conditions, adherence shouldn’t stop when they leave the clinic. Device-enabled virtual care management solutions are another valuable tool for driving patient adherence and ensuring patients follow their care plans. According to the CDC, over a quarter of U.S. adults are living with two or more chronic conditions. Patients living with complex conditions are more likely to experience fragmented care and challenges in decision-making, diminishing their understanding and adherence to their care plans. Imagine if these patients received clear, accessible care plans and support from a care manager who understood their unique needs, to reinforce understanding. These proactive, personalized interactions encourage increased adherence, earlier interventions, and improved patient outcomes.

Promoting preventive care

Monitoring devices generate real-time insights that facilitate more personalized care. Blood pressure cuffs, glucose monitors, and other tools help patients stay alert to health changes, while offering physicians the data they need to proactively adjust care plans. Earlier detection of conditions like heart disease can prevent serious complications. With device-enabled virtual care management, physicians don’t have to wait until the next appointment to modify treatment plans, allowing risk factors to be addressed before they escalate.

Monitoring can also enable patients to receive more comprehensive, personalized treatment plans. Pairing the device data, which offers access to an unprecedented amount of real-time data, with trained specialists who engage with patients telephonically and virtually, physicians can leverage more insights to deliver plans that fit and adapt to the patient’s needs as they change. By partnering with virtual care teams that extend their reach into the home, physicians gain the insights needed to act earlier, catching concerns and modifying treatment plans to mitigate adverse health outcomes.

By providing patients with resources and services that bridge the gaps between in-office visits, the health care system can meet more patients where they are in their care journey. Supportive care services open the door for patients to more easily access care. Rather than wait for a worsening condition or an emergent episode, patients can leverage these services to maintain their clean bill of health.

Connecting patients to care

Physicians are in a unique position to connect patients with supportive care. With their trusted voice and ongoing relationships, they can recommend services that extend care beyond the exam room. That might mean helping a patient get to a follow-up appointment, reminding them to take medications, or introducing a device-enabled virtual care solution.

Supportive care services span a range of resources that can help connect more patients to care. By understanding the various options available to patients, physicians can inform patients of the services that would bridge the gaps that they face and enhance their care. As a result, those across the health care industry can break down barriers and ensure that care touchpoints are increased to drive medical adherence, ushering in a new era of improved patient outcomes.

By taking simple steps, like asking about transportation or recommending device-enabled virtual care, physicians can make preventative care achievable, actionable, and effective.

Jeff Bennett is the Chief Strategy and Innovation Officer of Modivcare