New App Expands Support For Patients Following Outpatient Medical Procedures or Treatments

Unlike a generation ago, the majority of patient encounters with their doctor or other healthcare professional today will occur in an outpatient setting (e.g. physicians’ office, specialty care center, surgery center, etc., but not in a hospital).  Doctors perform thousands of surgeries and millions of screening procedures, such as colonoscopies and endoscopies, annually. The pace of such outpatient procedures is expected to outnumber hospital-based visits in the coming years. Yet, there is shockingly little support for patients once they are discharged from these ambulatory settings – even though many are still experiencing lingering effects of sedation or anesthesia.

A commitment to patient safety and quality care requires a focus on the growing number of patients who undergo outpatient medical procedures but who may lack sufficient home-based support in the crucial hours following their treatments. Recent articles have begun to outline this troubling trend. For instance, the need for escorts following medical procedures was highlighted in a New York Times article, “You May Need That Procedure: But Do You Really Need An Escort,” where the writer recounts the experiences of many patients.  

AideChoice, a new app-based platform, finally gives patients a way to plan for their own healthcare by offering non-medical home care support aides to provide on-demand care, including escorts to and from medical procedures. This user-friendly app connects patients with licensed home care agencies to provide short-term care.  Services can be purchased as a gift for friends or family members, to be redeemed at the patient’s convenience. The AideChoice app empowers patients to take control of their own healthcare and provides physicians with the confidence that their patients receive appropriate care following their procedure.