Healthcare is currently undergoing an irreversible transformation thanks to new technology and the movement from pay for service to pay for performance. Quality and customer satisfaction are paramount to the success of any business, including healthcare.

By engaging consumers in their healthcare, they are more likely to take better care of themselves, which improves health outcomes, cultivates consumer loyalty, and increases competitive advantage. Engaged consumers are healthier and happier. Consumer engagement also strengthens providers’ ability to meet meaningful use incentive requirements and criteria important to new accountable care and other patient-centered care programs.

The NeHC Consumer eHealth Readiness Tool (CeRT) is a support service, including an extensive survey-based organizational assessment, real-time progress reports and a comprehensive resource center.

It is an online business intelligence tool that measures an organization’s consumer engagement capabilities and practices It includes detailed questions in 4 Progressive Consumer Engagement Dimensions: Informed consumer Empowered consumer Engaged consumer Partnered consumer It addresses additional concepts including technology, infrastructure, culture, and outcomes measurement

• The CeRT is mapped to the NeHC Patient Engagement Framework , a comprehensive guide vetted by over 150 healthcare stakeholders and a diverse set of health IT, standards and consumer advocacy organizations and Meaningful Use criteria