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We all know the familiar script. The green light flashes for new digital health tools. Excitement bubbles as a dedicated team assembles, meticulously listing the pain points this shiny software will solve. The vendor list shrinks, the top contenders emerge, and a compelling presentation—brimming with promised ROI and cost savings—wins over leadership. The purchase is made.

Then comes the flurry of implementation calls, the staff training sessions, the endless questions, and the rallying cries for a smooth rollout. Everyone is energized; expectations are high. This new solution is going to transform operations and finally solve those persistent challenges.

But then… silence. Three months pass. Six. Nine. The anticipated surge in patient engagement never materializes. The hoped-for efficiencies remain elusive. That promised ROI? Nowhere in sight. What went wrong with this carefully planned, much-anticipated investment?

This scenario, unfortunately, is all too common in healthcare. Organizations invest significant resources, both time and money, into new digital health tools, hoping to revolutionize their processes and patient care. However, the anticipated transformation often falls short, leaving stakeholders frustrated and questioning the value of the investment.

Organizations invest significant resources, both time and money, into new digital health tools, hoping to revolutionize their processes and patient care. However, the anticipated transformation often falls short, leaving stakeholders frustrated and questioning the value of the investment.

The Challenge of Digital Health Tool Utilization

Patient engagement platforms and other digital health tools are designed to help reduce administrative burden, improve care quality, satisfaction levels, and communication, but they often fail to reach their full potential. For example, our recent research report Progress, Not Perfection: Care Access in the Digital Era found most organizations have a digital arrival management solution, yet 86% feel they negatively affect the patient experience. This is often due to improper use or inadequate promotion to patients.  

Empowering Patients: The Provider Organizations’ Role in Digital Health Engagement

If this sounds familiar, there’s a positive takeaway: it’s not too late to make your digital health tools work for you. You can still achieve the benefits you initially sought when you invested in these solutions. The key is to actively encourage patients to use them. This involves educating patients about the advantages of these resources and emphasizing their role in the overall care journey.  

Here are actionable strategies to boost patient engagement with digital health tools:  

  1. Assess Digital Literacy


Digital literacy is crucial. It’s the ability to find, understand, and use health information from digital sources to make informed health decisions. Similar to health literacy, a lack of digital literacy can prevent patients from effectively using digital patient tools and digital health engagement platforms.  

Understanding your audience’s digital comfort level is key in today’s healthcare landscape. Identifying and assisting individuals who might benefit from extra digital support ensures everyone can confidently navigate online healthcare resources. Our Consumer Benchmark report reveals that a significant 70% of consumers are already searching online for healthcare providers, services, and care locations. This increasing adoption of digital health tools signals a fantastic opportunity to connect with a wider audience, suggesting that the perceived digital literacy gap might be smaller than we think, as consumers actively embrace online engagement.

1. Educate Patients Proactively

Patient care extends beyond basic health information. It includes empowering patients to actively participate in their care through education and guidance. 

When introducing digital health resources, clearly explain why the tool is beneficial, how to use it effectively, and any relevant security considerations. Ensure the technology is user-friendly. For electronic communication, personalize your messaging to enhance engagement.  

2. Cultivate Patient Trust

Trust is fundamental in healthcare. Patients rely on provider organizations for their medical needs.  

Research highlights the importance of the provider-patient relationship, with a high percentage of consumers expressing trust in medical professionals. Furthermore, trusted healthcare professionals can significantly motivate patients to take a more active role in their health.

Leverage this trust to promote the use of digital health tools. Emphasize the evidence supporting improved health outcomes through increased patient activation and the growing consensus among physicians about the value of digital health tools.  

3. Prioritize HIPAA Compliance

Patients expect their protected health information (PHI) to be secure, especially when using digital health engagement platforms. Strict adherence to HIPAA regulations is essential to protect patient data and maintain trust.  

Failure to comply with HIPAA can lead to reputational damage, decreased patient satisfaction, and a loss of trust. Choose a HIPAA-compliant digital health engagement platform, especially when considering SMS messaging, and reassure patients that the tools you offer incorporate robust security measures.  

Read more: Top 10 Digital Patient Intake Software Solutions in 2025

 

The Benefits of Using Digital Health Tools

Successfully promoting digital health tools offers numerous advantages for provider organizations. These include improved access to data, increased clinician and staff productivity, reduced physician burnout, better health outcomes, shorter wait times, fewer no-shows, and enhanced data accuracy and sharing.  

Patients also benefit from greater continuity of care, fewer medical errors, and improved communication with their care teams.  

Kyruus Health provides comprehensive patient access and engagement solutions. Our digital patient tools streamline care navigation, from finding and scheduling appointments to completing pre-visit tasks and fostering meaningful patient engagement. Contact us today to learn how our solutions can simplify patient registration and enhance their overall experience.

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