The Best Laid Plans…

When life gets in the way, it’s even more difficult for people to take the right actions for their health. Every day is a new chance to do something good for yourself, whether it’s eating better, exercising more, or spending more quality time pursuing whatever brings joy. We wake up each morning with the best of intentions, but the plans we make can quickly get derailed. This is especially vexing for people who are afflicted with chronic conditions like diabetes and high blood pressure. Upon rising most people with chronic conditions plan to monitor their condition, take their medication, eat right, and exercise because it’s incredibly important to them that they do so. But then the day begins:
  • One of the kids has to go to the doctor.
  • A meeting runs long.
  • The car breaks down.
Everyday distractions like these quickly interfere with health management activities like glucose and blood pressure monitoring, medication compliance, exercise, and healthy eating. And the more these distractions take away from a person’s ability to care for themselves in prescribed ways, the more they increase the physical burden of illness, adding an emotional charge to personal health management that can have debilitating effects. It’s no wonder that most people with chronic conditions quickly lapse when it comes to effective health management activities. The key to successful chronic disease management is sustainable behavior change. That’s why it’s critical to put the user experience at the forefront of any digital therapeutic solution, to catch people in the critical moments that trigger better behaviors and help build better habits. Smartphone-based integrated personal health management programs keep users conveniently connected throughout the day, so they can take advantage of support when they need it most:
  • Timely prompts and rewards help keep members engaged and on track
  • Personalized care journeys ensure that support is tailored to each user’s unique needs
  • Convenient data collection and tracking tools, such as label scanning using a smartphone camera, empower members to make better decisions in the moment.
  • Live, dedicated coaches provide human encouragement.
Even in illness, daily responsibilities persist. People with chronic conditions still have to shop for groceries, pay the bills, clean the house, do the dishes, be there for their kids, spend time with their friends, and deal with the unexpected. While digital therapeutic solutions can’t prevent the stresses of everyday life, they can be a lifeline for people who struggle with chronic conditions. The key is integrating the best techniques from behavioral science and data science to deliver solutions that make the right things to do far easier.