Redefining Virtual Communications

A Disconnected Family Health & Communication Ecosystem

As we are amidst a pandemic and subject to social distancing mandates (voluntary self-isolations, sheltering in place, mandatory quarantines, and community lockdowns and restrictions).  We have been physically disconnected from our families and there has never been a greater need for families to overcome loneliness, isolation and its adverse health consequences. [4]

Despite having phones and laptops, one may think that having advanced communication tools right at our fingertips would curb the effects of loneliness and isolation and its health consequences.  However, these tools on their own are ill equipped to manage them effectively and efficiently.  And as an individual, having to deal with all of this alone, requires a substantial amount of mental bandwidth leaving very little room to help others.  So how do we address the health consequences, improve communication and free up mental bandwidth?

A Connected Family Health & Communication Ecosystem

One can assume that a simple phone call could provide answers to questions such as – have they been taking their medication, are they getting enough sleep, are they in pain, are they feeling cold, how is their diet, how is their mood, the list goes on. It begs the question: Are we asking the right questions? Can we get all these questions answered in just one simple phone call? Are we certain we’ve covered all topics? How are we recording and keeping track this information? Are we contacting our loved ones enough?

We can addresses this problem with its easy to use Virtual Interpersonal Communication Platform that employs a simple, icon based, on-point communication language.  Essentially removing the need to fill out forms, it allows for family members to quickly respond to custom or templated wellness surveys with pre-configured answers.  Potentially integrating wearables to provide relevant vital signs, such as temperature, automatically when a patient/family selects an answer of either “Ok, Cold, Warm”.  Allowing for the platform to quickly collect and access responses from the survey so it can provide vital information in real time by way of notifications and alerts.

This platform not only provides family members a place to access their loved ones health and wellness information easily and quickly. It can also be the driver of communication between family members by having the ability to: send reminders for appointments or take medication, scheduling weekly checkins, contact their physicians, etc.

By connecting family members and existing technologies with its platform, FamilyConnect provides its users peace of mind when it comes to monitoring their loved ones.  Providing them the bandwidth they need to provide support and communicate with one another in more meaningful ways.

Deploying and Integration

As it turns out Epic’s EHR is one of the most widely adapted in U.S. Hospitals [1], including the nation’s top-20 hospitals use Epic’s EHR. [2] It also leads in the outpatient setting with nearly 34% market share. [1] Health systems expect applications to leverage data from their existing EHR, and, when appropriate, have the capability to send information back in for up-to-date accuracy.

Albeit, FamilyConnect’s primary function is to facilitate communication and distribute health and wellness information for its users. The FamilyConnect platform, should be developed with the intention of having the ability to collect usable data that adhere to the nomenclature practices of UMLS, or Unified Medical Language System.  It should also adhere to HL7, C-CDA, and FHIR standards to exchange the health information it collects. [3] By following these standards, FamilyConnect can create consumable patient profiles compatible with any EHR system allowing for a connected healthcare ecosystem of primary care providers, specialists, first responders and insurance companies.

Rather than developing FamilyConnect as a standalone interpersonal communications platform, it should be built as a Healthcare Patient Information Dashboard therefore allowing FamilyConnect as a company the ability to adapt and rebrand its platform into various healthcare spaces.

Some examples of where this FamilyConnect’s Platform / Dashboard can be used.

Wearables

• • • Partnering with wearables allowing them the ability to build useable patient health information with the vitals they collect with their devices.

Telehealth

• • • Partnering with tele-health companies to ability to track their patients with robust profiles using FamilyConnect’s dashboard.

Informatics for Research

• • • Partnering with various medical research companies, allowing them the ability to collect useful patient information during clinical trials or the efficacy of various treatments.

Conclusion

With future plans to integrate access to primary care providers, pharmacists, first responders, emergency notifications, wearable health monitoring technology, and delivery services. FamilyConnect, is a prime example of how families and healthcare professionals can adopt a technology solution that facilitate and improve interpersonal communication. It is important that we can ensure family members, no matter the circumstance, are able to receive the proper attention and care they need by expanding their healthcare environment.

As health systems continue to focus on outpatient care, the importance of interpersonal communication with in the family is ever growing. Having a tool that will result in a more efficient, effective and positive communication among family members as well as patient to care giver interaction, is something we need today.