The ‘high-tech, high-touch’ future of post-acute care

The post-acute industry is at a “pivotal moment where technology and human connection are coming together in brand-new ways,” Katrina Melton, system vice president of post-acute and palliative care at Norfolk, Va.-based Sentara Health, said in an upcoming episode of the “Becker’s Healthcare Podcast.”

Historically, post-acute care was not viewed with the same strategic importance as acute or ambulatory care, Ms. Melton said, but healthcare has increasingly recognized that patient outcomes are shaped by the entire care continuum.

“I’ve often said that acute care saves lives, but post-acute care shapes lives,” Ms. Melton said. “The care a patient receives after — and sometimes even before or instead of — a hospitalization has the greatest influence on their recovery, their independence and, most importantly, their quality of life.”

That increased recognition has come with more investment in technology.

“With technology moving as quickly as it is today, that intersection between high tech and high touch is really a work in progress,” Ms. Melton said. “As healthcare continues to evolve, our greatest opportunity isn’t simply implementing technology. It’s being thoughtful about using it in a way that better supports our clinicians and gives them more time to focus on what matters most, which is caring for our patients.”

Sentara Health has already implemented several tools in its post-acute care, including ambient listening, automation and predictive analytics. The tools have reduced administrative burden, helped identify risks earlier and allowed clinicians to work smarter and better meet the patients where they are, she said.

Over the next five years, Ms. Melton said true success in implementation will mean patients don’t remember the technology. 

“They’ll remember that their care felt coordinated, that their clinicians were present with them, and that they and their families felt supported throughout their journey,” she said. “Most importantly, I hope people feel like they have a true partner in their care, not just a health system they have to navigate.”

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