Resource Library

This article details how the aging of the baby boomers will have a dramatic impact on the country.

When large, data-driven, consumer- oriented companies such as Google and Amazon announce they are entering the health care space, hospitals and health systems must be ready to change, update, and innovate in order to continue to be successful.

The University of Vermont Medical Center (UVMMC) addresses a facility issue through "design sprint," which incorporates such concepts as "creating consumer experiences," and "being nimble to exceed the rate of change," as described in the SHSMD's report Bridging Worlds: The Future Role of the Healthcare Strategist, Second Edition.

Extended hours and same-day appointments are fine, but not nearly enough to give today's consumers the convenience and access they desire. "What people really want is on-demand access," says David James, MD, CEO of Memorial Hermann Medical Group in Houston. "…They just need to get things done, and time has become really important for them."

Patients' personal investment in healthcare is higher now than ever before, and so are their expectations. In this consumerist environment, quality of experience is a prime factor in driving loyalty. This article explores both quantitative and qualitative approaches that are needed to grasp the entire patient choice decision-making journey.

This article describes how organizations can approach efforts to improve the patient experience, including examples of strategies gleaned from other industries. The article also highlights how one progressive hospital—Community Hospital of the Monterey Peninsula—is using mobile and digital technology to gain insights and meet consumer needs in real time.

In 2015, The University of Vermont Medical Center (UVMMC) became one of the first health systems in the nation to focus on creating exceptional patient experiences using human-centered design. Here are answers to several questions about the health system's new approach to experience design.

HealthEast, a four-hospital system serving the Minneapolis-St. Paul region, was determined to make good use of its patient portal—to improve health outcomes by sharing proactive, consistent health information that patients could access anywhere. Read more about their implementation of two digital health tools.

Gundersen Health System is using an online consumer panel to make and validate marketing decisions. As hospital and health system leaders and marketers, we must evolve to meet the expectations of the engaged healthcare consumer. But how? Many of us have adjusted our business models or made changes to our marketing strategies to try to meet the needs of these new healthcare decision makers. But how do we know if our direction aligns with the opinions and needs of this more engaged and influential consumer?

St. Luke Health System turned its outdated online brochure into a dynamic website that drives engagement and empowers patients. Healthcare consumers expect the digital experience to be as easy to use and personalized as Amazon. But with the tight restrictions placed on patient information and privacy, delivering on the promise of a seamless, customer-friendly experience can be difficult. So, how can healthcare providers meet those expectations and integrate all their patient touchpoints?