Given the importance of HEDIS scores, there’s good reason to invest in raising yours. Because preventive care plays a central role in determining HEDIS scores, one essential way to improve scores is by making sure that patients receive critical screenings, regular check-ups, and vaccines as needed. It’s also important to ensure that the documentation submitted for all care provided is complete, accurate, and timely.
One key factor that often contributes to lower HEDIS scores is the problem of care gaps that are created when patients do not receive all of the screenings, check-ups, vaccines, and other types of care that they should. Reminders and patient engagement can help prevent care gaps from being created in the first place, as well as helping to close existing gaps. Once there are care gaps, it’s important to have a system in place to identify them–and close them.
Similarly, a focus on patient-focused care and patient experience can help raise HEDIS scores. Requesting feedback from patients can be particularly useful by helping identify areas for improvement.
Increasing collaboration and training among medical professionals can also help improve HEDIS scores. Effective communication can help ensure that clinicians understand the importance of HEDIS scores. And when clinicians prioritize collaboration and information sharing, that can help prevent care gaps from being created as a result of a lack of proper communication.