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Avidon Health Team

What is lifestyle medicine?

Lifestyle medicine is a branch of medicine that focuses on the prevention and management of chronic diseases through lifestyle interventions, such as diet, exercise, sleep, stress management, and social support. The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that non-communicable diseases (NCDs) such as heart disease, stroke, diabetes, and cancer account for 71% of all deaths worldwide. The good news is that these diseases are largely preventable, and lifestyle medicine provides evidence-based strategies for their prevention and management. Recent trends in lifestyle medicine have shown promising results in achieving behavior change in chronic disease patients. Patients who take an active role in their health, by engaging in healthy behaviors, like diet, exercise, and mediation, are more likely to achieve their desired outcomes. For instance, a study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association found that a comprehensive lifestyle change program that focused on improving diet, exercise, and stress management significantly reduced the risk of heart disease among high-risk patients. The study demonstrated that patients who followed the lifestyle intervention program had a 90% reduction in angina symptoms, a significant decrease in medication use, and a 37% reduction in the rate of cardiac events. Another study published in the Lancet found that a similar lifestyle intervention program that focused on diet and exercise was effective in improving glycemic control and reducing medication use in patients with type 2 diabetes. The study demonstrated that patients who followed the program had a 1.3% reduction in HbA1c levels, which is equivalent to the effect

Laptop and stethoscope
Avidon Health Team

How technology innovations in lifestyle medicine are unlocking the future of preventive care

The future of preventive care is inextricably linked to advances in technology, particularly when it comes to lifestyle medicine. Technology innovations such as Engagement Rx® are enabling healthcare professionals to provide more comprehensive and personalized health services to individuals, while at the same time helping to improve population health outcomes. In this blog post, we will explore how technological innovations in lifestyle medicine are unlocking the future of preventive care. Personalized Care Engagement Rx allows medical providers to create personalized wellness plans for their patients based on demographic data, health history, and lifestyle goals. The tool offers a set of advanced features that enable practitioners to track patient progress and adjust program components as needed. With tailored programs, healthcare professionals can provide more personalized interventions – providing better results for their patients and leading to improved population health outcomes overall. Remote Monitoring But Engagement Rx is not just about personalization – it’s also about accessibility. This allows healthcare providers to extend the reach of their services beyond geographic boundaries. Engagement Rx’s remote monitoring capabilities enable medical professionals to provide high-quality care paths from anywhere in the world and in 14 languages. This makes it easier for practitioners to connect with patients and ensure that they are making progress towards their health goals. Interactive Content Engagement Rx provides interactive content – including quizzes, educational resources, and videos – which engages patients and makes it easier for them to understand lifestyle recommendations. By leveraging this approach, practitioners can foster an ongoing relationship

Doctor at desk with computer
Avidon Health Team

Supporting patient wellness goals without working 24/7

The last three years have been detrimental to the U.S. healthcare system. We’ve all seen the headlines proclaiming the “U.S. Healthcare System is in Critical Condition,” or that “Providers are Serving More with Less Staff, Funding.” These all ring true – the system is fractured. The healthcare system’s stressors are being compounded at every turn. To start, healthcare workers are burnt out. A recent study published in Mayo Clinic Proceedings, a peer-reviewed journal, shows that nearly 63% of physicians reported one manifestation of burnout in 2021, a dramatic increase from 38% in 2020 suggesting distress was overwhelmingly work related. Also adding to the strain are staffing shortages, forcing already weary healthcare workers to do more with less. The alarm’s been sounding for years, but today, the U.S. faces a shortage of up to 124,000 physicians by 2034, according to the Association of American Medical Colleges. The same story is playing out across the board, from primary to mental healthcare. And at a time when patients need extra support to overcome the many barriers throughout their healthcare journey – which can hinder care, progress and recovery – providers are also in need of reinforcements. Advanced technologies, like automation, are coming to their aid. Providing health and wellness support that goes beyond the clinic There often aren’t enough hours in the day for patients to take the actions they want, and need, to make lasting health and wellness changes. However, given the sheer prevalence of chronic health conditions in the U.S., where

Two women eating at a table
Avidon Health Team

Harnessing the power of Engagement Rx in lifestyle medicine practices

Engagement Rx® is a powerful technology solution that has the potential to revolutionize the way medical professionals deliver lifestyle medicine to their patients. With its content rich care paths, Engagement Rx makes it easier for patients to achieve their lifestyle goals and promote optimal health. In this article, we will explore how medical professionals can harness the power of Engagement Rx to enhance their lifestyle medicine practices and better serve their patients. What is Engagement Rx? Engagement Rx is a comprehensive technology tool that provides healthcare professionals with the resources they need to deliver effective lifestyle medicine programs. The tool includes modules, courses, targeting and tracking features, and other advanced features that enable healthcare professionals to create customized lifestyle medicine programs for their patients. Engagement Rx makes use of behavior change methodologies such as motivational interviewing, goal setting, and positive reinforcement to create a personalized approach to lifestyle medicine for each patient. The tool also includes interactive programs, videos, quizzes, and other engaging content that keep patients motivated and on track with their health goals. How can Engagement Rx enhance lifestyle medicine practices? Customized health programs: Engagement Rx provides medical professionals with the ability to create customized care paths tailored to individual patient needs. The solution enables doctors to personalize each patient’s program, considering their health goals and status. Track progress and outcomes: Engagement Rx tracks patient behavior and evaluates the effectiveness of lifestyle medicine interventions. Health practitioners can track patient progress, support adherence to recommended health behaviors, and provide

Woman shopping for vegetables
Avidon Health Team

How Engagement Rx expands your lifestyle medicine practice beyond physical boundaries

Engagement Rx® is a powerful technology tool that can help you expand your lifestyle medicine practice beyond physical boundaries. With its advanced features and customizable care paths, Engagement Rx allows healthcare professionals to create personalized wellness programs for patients regardless of their location. In this article, we will discuss how Engagement Rx can help you expand your lifestyle medicine practice beyond physical boundaries. Telemedicine Telemedicine has made medical care available to patients regardless of their location. With Engagement Rx, you can extend your lifestyle medicine services beyond your geographic region. The solution’s tracking features enable you to provide high-quality health services to your patients from anywhere. Customized patient programs Engagement Rx allows you to create customized wellness programs for your patients based on their demographic data, health history, and lifestyle goals. The tool’s advanced features enable you to track and monitor patient progress, provide support and feedback, and adjust the program as necessary. With tailored programs, you can offer personalized care to patients, even those from a different location. Interactive content Engagement Rx features interactive courses, quizzes, and educational resources that engage patients and make it easier for them to understand and implement healthy lifestyle recommendations. The interactive content is accessible online, making it easier for patients to access from wherever they are and regardless of where they are located. Better patient engagement Engagement Rx enhances patient engagement by personalizing approaches to lifestyle medicine. The tool provides a platform for patients to access health content and track their progress, making

Flows 2.0 example
Avidon Health Team

Enhanced automation and content creation now part of Engagement Rx

Flows 2.0 makes it easier to create customized care paths that can be efficiently implemented for large groups of participants, allowing for more personalized and effective participant interactions. Health coaching teams know that building trusting connections with their clients and personalizing care can help improve health outcomes. However, in today’s healthcare landscape, health coaching teams do not always have the time – and are not typically reimbursed – for developing custom wellness plans or ensuring their adherence. Engagement Rx® provides the tools for health coaching teams to personalize engagement to create behavior change at scale. The platform’s newest release, Flows 2.0, you can further customize care paths and leverage automation. Flows 2.0 offers more flexibility in designing personalized health programs by creating unique experiences based on the needs of your population. These care paths are designed by experts using lifestyle medicine principles to help individuals achieve their health goals using behavior-based content, courses, tools, and resources. One of the primary benefits of Engagement Rx is that it can help health coaching teams create a more personalized experience. With Flows 2.0, you have the capability to add branching logic to care paths that address the specific needs and goals of each participant. For health coaching teams, Flows are a hugely versatile tool and can be used in Engagement Rx templates as the building blocks of microlearning courses or as a streamlined method of onboarding new participants. By doing so, participants are more likely to engage with their health and be invested

Woman on stationary bike
Avidon Health Team

Measuring your engagement impact with these three KPIs

Community centers play a vital role in the health and well-being of local residents. Through their physical spaces and engaging programming, community centers connect seniors, empower local youth, promote healthy lifestyles and strengthen community bonds. These social connections can foster stronger, safer and more inclusive communities, while services and programs can advance individual and community-level health and wellness initiatives. Achieving positive outcomes hinges on community center performance; leading us to ask: does your community center measure any Key Performance Indicators a.k.a. KPIs? These are the measurable values that indicate how effectively your organization is performing in terms of engagement, financial success, member loyalty and more. KPIs can give your community center data that can be used when setting engagement goals, devising strategies to reach targets and tracking progress. Here we look at the three must-know KPIs community centers should be measuring – and using – to elevate member experiences and improve health and wellness outcomes. No. 1 Member Dropout Rate It’s estimated that in 2021 some 66.5 million Americans ages six and older, or 1 in 5 people, were members of a health club or fitness studio, according to IHRSA’s (The Global Health & Fitness Association) annual Health Club Consumer Report. Yet, the report found that most health and wellness centers lose 50% of new memberships within the first six months. A community center’s member dropout rate is among the best indicators of the effectiveness of its engagement. By measuring how many members opted out of renewals or dropped out

Woman on laptop
Avidon Health Team

Three ways technology supports a patient’s health & wellness goals well beyond appointments

Today, more than half of the U.S. adult population has at least one chronic health condition, and upward of 40% have multiple. These chronic diseases – heart disease, diabetes, cancer, stroke and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease included – are the nation’s leading causes of death, disability and healthcare costs. In fact, some 90% of the nation’s $4.1 trillion in annual healthcare expenditures are spent on treating chronic and mental health conditions. The complexities and expenses associated with chronic diseases make their prevention and treatment burdensome; plus, the challenges are being compounded. Facing the rising prevalence of chronic diseases, an aging population and worsening shortage of primary care physicians, the treatment and prevention pathways of chronic diseases are on track to get even worse. It’s clear: the way our healthcare system has long treated chronic diseases, with occasional check-ins and at-home management, isn’t enough. Why? The problem of adherence to at-home chronic disease management remains unsolved. But technology offers a remedy. Here we explore 3 ways primary care and lifestyle medicine providers can utilize digital wellness solutions to help patients stay on track after, and in between, their in-person appointments. No. 1 : Establish regular connections The current management model for chronic health conditions is failing patients. Today, patients schedule appointments, undergo testing and receive diagnoses, treatment plans and medicine. Often, patients are then left to their own devices. Providers can do better. Utilizing a digital wellness solution, providers can fill in the gaps between appointments to check in on patients

Doctor and patient with phone
Avidon Health Team

How technology is transforming the patient experience and boosting engagement

The health of our nation is at a critical level. Today, it’s estimated 6 in 10 American adults have a chronic disease, with 40% of adults having two or more such diseases, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. With the prevalence of heart disease, diabetes, cancer, obesity and other chronic illnesses, lifestyle medicine is needed now more  than ever. With the potential to prevent, and reverse, chronic diseases, lifestyle medicine providers can effectively drive change to help individuals add years to their lives. And yet, barriers to positive outcomes exist – predominantly where patient engagement is concerned. How can providers keep patients engaged after their appointments and throughout their journey to better health? Personalized care with the help of the right technology. Here we look at how digital wellness tools equipped with automation technology can help lifestyle medicine providers see benefits in their practices and patient populations. Increased motivation for lasting lifestyle changes Often, individuals are highly motivated to make critical lifestyle changes when they, or a family member, are diagnosed with a chronic illness or present risk indicators of disease. This a-ha moment is the first step in helping individuals improve their health and well-being. With digital wellness technology, lifestyle medicine providers can capitalize on these moments of realization and early motivation to engage patients with vital educational offerings to better understand health issues. Providers can now easily launch personalized online courses, with on-demand content, videos and articles, to educate and engage patients throughout every stage

Man touching automation screen
Avidon Health Team

Elevate program performance with these 4 automations

Technology, such as digital wellness programs, is helping to reshape the health and wellness industry, enabling providers to deliver personalized care at scale that’s accessible when, where, and how participants prefer. It’s helping providers work smarter, not harder, to streamline programs and deliver engaging, personalized care and content that drives results. Leveraging technology and automation, for everything from program enrollment, content, reminders, and surveys, health and wellness providers can communicate with participants and keep them engaged along every step of their health and wellness journey. Here we explore the automations that can increase the performance of health and wellness programs: No. 1: Automating your onboarding process We think it’s safe to say no one wants to be bogged down in paperwork – even if it’s digital. Providers can eliminate clunky onboarding processes with the help of digital wellness solutions. How? Automation. By automating their onboarding, providers give program participants the freedom to fill out intake forms and answer questionnaires at their own pace and convenience. This gives providers the opportunity to ask more in-depth questions and gain insights into the lifestyle choices, preferences and goals of program participants. With a deeper understanding of how participants think, act, learn, and communicate at the start of their health and wellness journeys, providers can quickly launch personalized content and care. That’s essential in the health and wellness sector, where providers need to seize the opportunity to engage participants when they are most enthusiastic about enacting change. It begins with creating an easy onboarding

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