Patient engagement : A consumer-centered model to innovate healthcare

Abstract

Western Societies are facing several challenges at the economic, social, and environmental levels. The demand for healthcare is increasing and changing its focus due to the ageing of populations and the rise of chronic conditions. Technological and scientific advancements in the healthcare sector have gradually improved the life expectancy of people. Less people are dying from infectious diseases and more people are living longer. As the population ages, more people are at risk of contracting chronic diseases, with a consequent escalation in demands for healthcare. The extended life expectancy and the expectation of an improved quality of life is putting pressure on Western healthcare systems, which need to improve their management approaches and their services delivery in order to become better attuned to the evolving demand of their clients. Precisely, in a period of limited resources, healthcare systems are forced to achieve a better balance in “doing more with less”. Consequently, health systems are now searching for new and effective ways to make their services more sustainable at the economic level and more responsive to their patients’ needs and expectations.