Everyone knows the famous Apple slogan, Think Different. Steve Jobs coined the phrase to introduce the original Macintosh computer. It’s a mindset that has inspired countless innovations in the way people interact with technology.
Today, many people in the healthcare field are trying to “think different” about the patient experience. They’re asking, “How can we use technology to redesign the way people interact with caregivers, become more active, and manage their own health?” The answers might come from the tech world itself.
Step Up to the O Bar!
Recently, a team of healthcare strategists, clinical leaders, and technology experts at Ochsner Health System launched the “O Bar.” Like Apple’s retail store, the O Bar is staffed by a tech-savvy “genius” who guides visitors through the ins and outs of digital health. It is equipped with iPads that allow visitors to explore hundreds of health and wellness apps.
Visitors can also try out wearable technologies, such as activity trackers and other digital health devices. The O Bar is also being used to support wireless monitoring programs to help physicians manage patients with health conditions, such as heart failure and hypertension.
Ask, Experiment, Learn
The first O Bar has been so successful that Ochsner opened two additional locations. Here are three takeaways:
- Meet patients where they are.
- Look for ways to transform patients from bystanders to health advocates.
- Partner with physicians to bring digital medicine to their patients.
It’s Time to ‘Think Different’
In the March/April 2016 issue of SHSMD’s Spectrum magazine, Sara McCulloch and Brittany Graffagnini, marketing directors at Ochsner Health System, share how their health network was able to break down barriers to access, empower patients, and help consumers take control of their health with digital technology.
SHSMD members, read the full article: How Healthcare Can ‘Think Different.’
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