Evidence from telehealth: Bridging the care continuum and generating new business

Healthcare has traditionally been organised by the terms of the providers, leaving patients with the burden of navigating through a complex network of services. This not only causes frustration but can at worst lead to unnecessary delays and adverse health outcomes. Meanwhile we are witnessing a surge in mental health issues and lifestyle-related diseases. The World Health Organization (WHO) estimated that by 2030, the proportion of total global deaths due to chronic disease is expected to increase to 70 percent and the global burden of disease to 56 percent.  

So far, effective means for supporting the prevention and treatment adherence of these diseases have remained elusive. Digital tools hold the potential to change the way we promote health, treatment, and recovery. Applications can help us to guide patients through their health journeys in a multitude of scenarios from getting pregnant to going through surgery or making a lifestyle change to prevent the onset of chronic disease. Research shows that generating behavioural change requires gamification and continued support, and typically the barrier is not a lack of knowledge on what needs to be done, but rather the failure to actually execute the beneficial changes.  

Digital patient journeys can provide the patient with well-timed reminders that help build improved, sustainable habits. In addition, they can be used to clarify the stages of treatment and care, providing the patient with clear knowledge of what needs to be done next at any given time. Health care professionals, in turn, are able to scale up their work as they can effectively monitor the patients’ progression on their given pathway, and provide interventions when they are needed, instead of waiting until the next physical encounter.  

Our experience from different markets such as Finland and Switzerland show that people want to engage and be active in managing their health. Case examples include patients undergoing an orthopaedic procedure, coaching program patients aiming to make a lifestyle change such as quitting smoking or losing weight and diabetic patients.  

Our evidence shows that when we empower patients with continuous support and guidance we can improve treatment outcomes, increase patient satisfaction, and make better use of care personnel’s time. The BeeHealthy platform facilitates patient engagement and supports the patient journey. It is currently used in over 10 countries by over 1,5 million people.