A paradigm shift is occurring in how care is delivered, and it’s not being led by providers, payers, or regulatory bodies. As deductibles and out-of-pocket costs continue to rise, patients are increasingly taking on a more active role as healthcare consumers. They are applying their experiences and expectations from the general consumer market to guide them on how they source healthcare services.

This trend is commonly referred to as the consumerization of healthcare, and it is critical for independent practices and health systems with long-term growth aspirations to observe and act accordingly. Unfortunately, many healthcare organizations are behind the curve on these trends. In its 2018 State of Consumerism in Healthcare Report, consultancy group Kaufman Hall found that only 8% of US hospitals and health systems demonstrated strong consumer-centric performance.

Healthcare providers who embrace these consumerization trends can position themselves for growth in the years to come. However, those who fall behind risk losing portions of their business to an abundance of emerging alternative care services.

Embracing patient-centricity begins with listening to your customers’ needs. Providers that ignore this trend risk losing business to newly emerging nontraditional services that emphasize technology and convenience.

To better understand this trend and its potential impact on your business, download our latest white paper, “Prepare for a revolution in the patient experience: Consumerization trends defining the future of healthcare.”

Additionally, check out all of the posts in our 5-part series that discuss these common expectations of today’s healthcare buyers:

• Provider reputation
• Convenient scheduling
• Remote patient care
• Collaborative care profiles
• Transparent billing