pLOG

2024-08-14

Patient Support Services in the Healthcare Sector

In the healthcare field, patient support services have become a crucial offering for biopharmaceutical companies. As these services expand, the demand for quantifiable benefits has become important. Effective metrics and data analytics tools enable management to assess the effectiveness of patient support programs more accurately, ensure the rational allocation of resources, and improve patient health outcomes. Patient support services not only enhance the medication experience for patients but also strengthen brand loyalty and market competitiveness. These services encompass various aspects, including patient education, medication management, and resource support, aimed at helping patients better manage their conditions and improve treatment outcomes. Commonly used metrics to measure patient support programs include patient engagement rates and satisfaction levels. With the collection of more real-world data, dynamic data analysis tools and predictive models can be employed to precisely assess the impact of these services.

The ultimate goal of patient support services is still centered on treatment outcomes, where leading and lagging indicators serve as basic classifications. Leading indicators include patient engagement rates, improvements in medication knowledge, and behavior changes, which can predict the likelihood of the program's success. Lagging indicators measure final outcomes, including new medication rates after enrollment, refill rates, patient experience scores (Net Promoter Score), and reductions in patient healthcare costs. The new medication rate (New Dose) after enrollment is an important lagging indicator that reflects patients' initial purchases and use of medication after receiving support services. A high value for this indicator suggests a higher acceptance of the program by patients and a positive influence on medication adherence. The refill rate is another key lagging indicator, reflecting whether patients can continue taking medications as planned after receiving support services. This indicator is directly related to treatment effectiveness, as continuous medication use is a core factor.

The patient experience score (such as NPS) measures patients' satisfaction with the support services. This score not only reflects the subjective feelings of patients or caregivers but can also predict whether caregivers (including healthcare professionals) or patients will recommend or share these services with others, thereby indirectly influencing the program's market impact. The reduction in healthcare cost burden or financial toxicity score (FT Score) is also an important indicator, benefiting not only patients but also positively impacting the overall effectiveness of medical support. Effective patient support services can also have a stabilizing effect on society.

With advancements in data analytics technology, PatientsForce has begun adopting various innovative tools to enhance the visibility of patient support services. The PASS Board, built on a Tableau-based visualization data system, helps biopharmaceutical companies understand service trend changes in a more dynamic and visual manner. It allows for targeted optimization of support services and facilitates the observation of intervention effects, as well as forecasting, which typically relies on long-term historical data. The next step in forecasting involves automated patient surveys or interactive tools that provide specific operational recommendations to the support service team based on patient feedback. For example, when a patient reports a triggering event, the system automatically suggests that the support service team reach out to the patient to provide further assistance.

Evie Wang
Chief Operating Officer
PatientsForce Health Integration Group