Technology is enhancing the prospects of engagement and shared decision-making to bolster schizophrenia treatment and care.
FREMONT, CA: Remarkable developments in healthcare have today become possible owing to the adoption of modern technologies and enhanced patient-centric strategies, which can also pay rich dividends in the context of mental healthcare. Schizophrenia, which is one among the many serious and chronic mental health conditions, necessitates consistent and lifelong medical care. The current article discusses the positive implications that technology has on patient engagement concerning schizophrenia in particular.
• Self-Management of Schizophrenia
Owing to the chronic nature of schizophrenia, the onus is often on the patient to manage symptoms and follow up with treatment. With dedicated smartphone apps developed specifically to facilitate self-management of schizophrenia, prospects of enhancing mental healthcare have now seen an improvement. By equipping patients with interactive apps, care providers can empower them to avail support during high-risk relapse periods, preventing the need for hospitalization.
• Optimized Communications between Medical Professionals and Patients
Schizophrenia patients can now access professional help through optimized engagement platforms. These platforms allow patients to seek professional advice without having to visit a clinic. Apart from that, patients from areas where psychiatry facilities are not available can also readily access help from experts. Such features often contribute to shared decision-making, helping build a proactive relationship between care providers and patients.
• Consistent Monitoring
By incentivizing the participation of schizophrenia patients in their own journey to recovery, advanced tools are enhancing the consistency of monitoring and evaluation. Periodic assessments of patient health through interactive, automated, app-driven tests allow care providers to monitor and diagnose schizophrenia symptoms. Early interventions can be extremely advantageous in preventing adverse conditions from escalating.
Patient engagement and assistance through technology-backed solutions have enabled care providers to develop a comprehensive and inclusive mental health ecosystem. With patients becoming empowered, managing schizophrenia, and improving the life of schizophrenia patients has become feasible and convenient.
