CareMessage's Latest Impact on Health Equity
Learn about our approach and latest findings on health equity.
OVERVIEW
Our Impact in 2024
For the first time, in 2024, we were able to understand the close to 80 million interactions between our system and patients nationwide, This showed CareMessage utilization is already highly aligned with Health Equity.
The analysis was possible through AI categorization and human review to assign each message a category, and aligning each relevant category with our health equity pillars. This foundation gives us a roadmap for 2025 to improve the quality of evidence we have to showcase the impact of all CareMessage activity.
OUR MEASUREMENT FRAMEWORK
We measure impact on health equity based on the strength of the data available.
As you will see below, existing CareMessage utilization is highly aligned with health equity. However, this alone is not enough for our 2028 goal. Our aim as we move from breadth to depth is to elevate the measurement of healthcare technologies in their ability to impact outcomes.
This quality of evidence framework was created to ensure our success is measured on the way we improve outcomes and not solely based on utilization. This is aligned with the goals of everyone we partner with, from customers to researchers, who share our vision for advancing health equity.
NATIONAL REACH
Key data from 2024.
Of the 5.7 million people messaged in 2024, close to 5 million people received one or more messages tied to our three health equity pillars.
HEALTH EQUITY IMPACT - STANDARD
Insights into the breadth of messages across the CareMessage platform.
Access to Care
Messaging about the availability, affordability, delivery and quality of care. For example, helping patients get connected to primary care after an emergency room visit.
Clinical Outcomes
Messaging about prevention, screenings, and disease management. For example, to address Maternal Health, organizations delivered health education and virtual classes.
Social Drivers of Health
Messaging about needs assessments, driving awareness of resources, and providing direct case management support. For example, enrollment in food stamps and food distribution.
HEALTH EQUITY IMPACT - VERIFIED
Physicians CareConnection enables 64% of patients with a missing A1c to return to care.
Problem
Health Coaches were making manual phone calls to patients who did not show up for their 3-month diabetes checkups. It became difficult to reach patients, and 2 to 3 hours per patient per week were spent trying to re-engage them. The staff had a goal of 3 callbacks a week and were also texting from their EHR (athenahealth).
Solution
Physicians CareConnection, a free clinic in Ohio, leveraged our new product, Automated Gaps-in-Care Journeys, to automate data extraction from its EHR. Patient segments were created based on appointment and clinical data, and were paired with the right patient engagement strategy to bring them back into care. For example, they automatically targeted patients who visited the clinic in the last year, where their last A1c>8, between the ages of 18-75, with no upcoming appointment. Patients were sent a prompt to come back in for care.
Success
From May to December 2024, 64% of the patients who were messaged came back into care. The average number of messages sent before someone came back in was three. Additionally, the updated A1c values for the patients who came back in showed 27% of them had a reduction in A1c.
Explore other examples of customer success in our Webinars page.
HEALTH EQUITY IMPACT - VALIDATED
CareMessage continues to be cited in a variety of research publications, strengthening the rigor through which we evaluate impact.
The following is a selection of publications by independent researchers who have tested the use of CareMessage in a variety of settings. Given the length of time it takes from running an intervention to publication, we are highlighting studies published prior to 2024.
CLINICAL OUTCOMES
Use of CareMessage Health Education Programs alongside group visits
Impact of a Text Messaging Intervention as an In-Between Support to Diabetes Group Visits in Federally Qualified Health Centers: Cluster Randomized Controlled Study
CLINICAL OUTCOMES
Use of CareMessage alongside a Community Health Worker intervention
Implementation and Evaluation of a mHealth-Based Community Health Worker Feedback Loop for Hispanics with and at Risk for Diabetes
https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s11606-023-08434-7
ACCESS TO CARE
Use of CareMessage Appointment Reminders in a Student-Run Free Clinic
CareMessage Text Usage Increases Appointment Adherence in a Student-Run Free Clinic
Explore other examples in our Publications page.