INNOVATIVE APPROACHES TO HEALTHCARE DELIVERY IN THE COMMUNITY
SETTING
Innovative approaches to healthcare are necessary for providing the best access to healthcare
at a workable cost and improving the patient's health and life. Some modern approaches are:
Telemedicine and Telehealth:
These technologies are new and allow health care workers to provide expert care through
wireless communication like text messaging, phone calls, and audio calls. This is especially
beneficial in rural or medically underserved areas.
Portable Health Clinics:
These are mobile health centers that provide healthcare to communities regardless of where
they live, offering a variety of services including routine check-ups to specialized treatment.
Moreover, they are especially helpful in increasing healthcare access for those who live in
rural or underserved areas.
Community Health Workers:
CHWs are those who have undergone rigorous training to work with their communities in
providing them access to proper healthcare. They bring communities closer to the best health
lifestyle.
Integrated Health Models:
They combine physical, mental, and social health services to deal with multiple health factors
of a patient in a systemic manner.
Home-based care:
Providing healthcare to a patient at his home, either with physical presence or
telecommunication, can help the patient feel at ease and ensures that the patient adheres to
proper medication methods and routine.
Community-based Participatory Research:
This allows members of a community to have a say in the structure and design and
implementation of healthcare interventions. As a result, it ensures that the interventions are
culturally appropriate and meet all the individual needs.
Digital Health Solutions:
These can be in the form of apps, websites, programs, etc., that help a patient to monitor a
chronic condition like diabetes, arthritis, etc. They also help the patient have control over
their own health. Additionally, they may provide educational resources to the patient for
increasing his understanding of his health.
Social Prescribing:
This model involves the reference of patients to social groups, communities, and associations
that may aid in the mental health of the patient. E.g., Therapy, Rehabilitation for drug
abusers. It improves the social aspects of health.
Collaborative Care Models:
These models involve collaboration between healthcare providers, their departments,
community health workers, hospitals, and stakeholders to provide efficient and widespread
healthcare. It also improves monitoring of diseases and prevents reduplication of healthcare.