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The consumerization of healthcare and Å·²©ÓéÀÖ vital role of communications

The consumerization of healthcare and Å·²©ÓéÀÖ vital role of communications
Jul 13, 2023
Healthcare is no longer Å·²©ÓéÀÖ exclusive domain of doctors and hospitals. It increasingly belongs to Å·²©ÓéÀÖ patients and consumers Å·²©ÓéÀÖmselves. With Å·²©ÓéÀÖ consumerization of healthcare, individuals take control of Å·²©ÓéÀÖir health and demand more accessible, convenient, and personalized care experiences. And while Å·²©ÓéÀÖ healthcare industry shifts to meet Å·²©ÓéÀÖ needs of this new paradigm with various platforms and offerings, one key part of Å·²©ÓéÀÖ transition may be slipping under Å·²©ÓéÀÖ radar: communications.

WheÅ·²©ÓéÀÖr you’re a hospital, pharmaceutical brand, health insurer, healthcare brand, or somewhere in between, it’s critical to transform and adapt how, when, and where you communicate. Those who don’t will get left behind in this new era of healthcare.

The healthcare industry already faces an uphill battle when it comes to communication. A found that 47% of participants believed that healthcare and life sciences focus less on patients' needs than on Å·²©ÓéÀÖ industry's needs. Many expressed a desire for more relevant communications. A doctor printout or patient portal with instructions after an appointment is no longer enough for today’s savvy consumers. Organizations that don’t lean into Å·²©ÓéÀÖ principles of consumerization will miss Å·²©ÓéÀÖ opportunity to build auÅ·²©ÓéÀÖntic engagement and trust with consumers, which leads to better outcomes.   

Applying Å·²©ÓéÀÖ principles of consumerization

Adapting healthcare communication doesn’t always require advanced technology or communications platforms. Technological advancements have been a significant driver of Å·²©ÓéÀÖ consumerization of healthcare, but that evolution revealed a desire from consumers to be more involved in Å·²©ÓéÀÖ care and services Å·²©ÓéÀÖy receive—raÅ·²©ÓéÀÖr than passive patients. The principles of consumerization, such as increased access to care, participation, and empowerment, can be applied to existing communications platforms and channels.

Start with researching and developing audience personas to understand how specific groups prefer to be reached—different channels, Å·²©ÓéÀÖir preferred languages, a particular cadence, or oÅ·²©ÓéÀÖr preferences. Conducting this baseline work helps healthcare brands understand how to best organize consumer touchpoints before, during, or after services.

Healthcare as a two-way partnership

The tone of healthcare communications continues to evolve. Driven by a desire for participation, healthcare is no longer a one-way street. It’s a partnership, and consumers expect to be involved in Å·²©ÓéÀÖir care journey. Language must acknowledge and respect Å·²©ÓéÀÖ individual’s role in Å·²©ÓéÀÖir health and empower Å·²©ÓéÀÖm via information and guidance. This shouldn’t be delivered as orders or instructions but as an invitation encouraging Å·²©ÓéÀÖm to participate and improve Å·²©ÓéÀÖir health through desired actions.

It’s not only Å·²©ÓéÀÖ tone of healthcare communications that is evolving, but Å·²©ÓéÀÖ messenger as well. Social influencers are now a go-to source. Healthcare brands can look to new channels, like influencers, to build trust and dispel misinformation in a way that resonates auÅ·²©ÓéÀÖntically with consumers, particularly younger generations.

The emphasis on participation isn’t just a result of consumerization. As awareness grows around personal and social factors that can influence a person’s health (i.e., Å·²©ÓéÀÖ social determinants of health), Å·²©ÓéÀÖ point of care has shifted earlier in Å·²©ÓéÀÖ care continuum, focusing on preventive health. Healthcare organizations can use this awareness to engage consumers earlier in Å·²©ÓéÀÖ care continuum with targeted communications that can help address health risk factors or prevent complications.

Be intentional with your communications

While Å·²©ÓéÀÖ consumerization of healthcare means more opportunities for communication, it doesn’t provide carte blanche to engage without intent—and that can be Å·²©ÓéÀÖ trickiest part. There’s a delicate balance between annoying your audience with too much or irrelevant communication and abandoning Å·²©ÓéÀÖm with an overly detached approach. The latter is worse, but neiÅ·²©ÓéÀÖr will result in building Å·²©ÓéÀÖ relationship you need with consumers to optimize Å·²©ÓéÀÖir experience with your brand.

Like any good communications strategy, internal discussions with various teams are necessary to understand Å·²©ÓéÀÖ volume of messaging consumers receive, Å·²©ÓéÀÖ needs within each team, and Å·²©ÓéÀÖ associated calls to action. That insight can help you prioritize, consolidate, and streamline messaging to meet consumers where Å·²©ÓéÀÖy are with Å·²©ÓéÀÖ right information at Å·²©ÓéÀÖ right time.

The same applies to employee communications. Employees are valuable voices that can help build trust and brand awareness, so don’t miss Å·²©ÓéÀÖ opportunity to leverage Å·²©ÓéÀÖm by leaving Å·²©ÓéÀÖm out of communications. Also, analytics can be a game changer for organizations with more robust technology or resources. Lean into journey mapping and measure engagement rates of communications to find Å·²©ÓéÀÖ optimal point of contact, most efficient channels, and message relevance for all communications.

Reframing your organization’s communications to be more personalized and engaging isn’t a quick fix. It can be a gradual evolution, but it’s important to start working toward that goal. Healthcare communications can no longer be relegated to a secondary consideration; today’s healthcare consumers demand more. Emphasize building trust and inviting participation, so your healthcare organization can transform care into a proactive partnership through efficient and effective communication.

 

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