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The Institute for Health Technology Transformation is a US based organisation that brings together private and public sector leaders to foster the effective use of technology across the healthcare industry.

Their report, "Top Ten Things You Need To Know About Engaging Patients’ is a compilation of what key health IT experts from across the U.S. think are the most important things to know about engaging patients in the digital age along with four key recommendations for practical action.

The top 10 strategies are:

• Providing patients with online health tools that offer reminders and information about their diagnosis and treatments;
• Connecting with patients through social networking sites;
• Reaching out to older adults through online channels;
• Providing caregivers with access to tools such as personal health records and online assessments;
• Offering Personal Health Record tools maintained by a practice or hospital;
• Accommodating patients' use of smart phones and other mobile devices that can access health data;
• Looking into technology that can improve the privacy and security of electronic health records;
• Taking advantage of inexpensive communication outlets such as blogs, Facebook, Twitter and YouTube;
• Preventing financial concerns from hindering creative efforts to engage patients in health IT; and
• Using technology to react strategically to changing health care payment models
  

To read the full report go to:
http://ihealthtran.com/pdf/iHT2%20Patient%20Engagement%20Report%20-%202011.pdf