Most healthcare technology isn’t solving the access problem—it’s making it worse. Patients are waiting an average of 38 days for care, emergency rooms are overcrowded with non-emergent issues, and the US is expected to be over 3.2 million healthcare workers short by 2026.
Meanwhile, health systems are investing heavily in technology without substantial results. Productivity is down 13%, and providers are spending twice as much time in their EHRs as they do with patients. Despite the promises of digital transformation, access continues to erode.
So what’s the disconnect?
Looking Beyond Healthcare Technology to Connectivity
Healthcare doesn’t need more technology for technology's sake. It needs connected systems.
Today’s landscape is filled with well-meaning tools that solve narrow problems—AI scribes, online scheduling apps, video visit platforms—but most operate in silos. When these solutions aren’t integrated, they create new workflows, add friction, and increase the burden on already maxed-out teams. Patients feel the impact, too: disjointed digital experiences, redundant forms, confusing pathways, and long waits.
Disconnected technology fragments the care experience—and fragments create delays, gaps, and frustration. To truly expand access, health systems need to unify the patient journey—from the first digital interaction to ongoing follow-ups—across virtual and in-person care. That requires seamless connectivity.
Health systems face two options:
- Manually stitch together dozens of vendor solutions, trying to make them talk to each other and the EHR.
- Or take a platform approach with a unified system that connects care from start to finish and maximizes the EMR investment.
Connected Systems Expand Access at Every Touchpoint
A connected system allows each step in the care journey to inform and improve the next. Here's how connectivity increases access throughout the continuum:
- Discovery
Access starts the moment a patient begins searching for care. Welcome patients with a Digital Front Door® and an intelligent chatbot with clear prompts that eliminate dead ends and surface the right resources. - Navigation
AI leverages clinical and operational data to intelligently guide, triage, and route patients—whether to bill pay, scheduling, or the appropriate level of care—ensuring resources are prioritized for those who need them most. - Care Experience
Patients complete intake and that information is automatically integrated into the EHR. Providers have everything they need in one place, reducing duplicative tasks, streamlining documentation, and enabling more face-to-face time with patients. - Monitor
Identify high-risk patients early through remote monitoring, self-reported data, and device integrations. AI-powered engagement tools proactively reach out, escalating care when needed and keeping patients connected between visits. - Follow-Up and Engagement
Automated outreach continues after the visit, personalizing communications based on the patient’s condition, preferences, and history. This reduces no-shows, improves outcomes, and drives loyalty.
Each step builds on the last, and each interaction is informed by the full picture. That’s the power of a connected care journey—and it’s the key to unlocking sustainable, scalable access.
The Power of Intelligently Connected Care
When systems are truly connected, they transform the patient and provider experience. Care becomes continuous, access more scalable, and the entire journey seamless—unlocking new opportunities to deliver value, improve outcomes, and eliminate friction for everyone involved.
Maximize your Digital Front Door®
Fabric leverages its proprietary Hybrid AI at the Digital Front Door® to enable 24/7 self-service for better consumer experiences and increased patient acquisition. Whether parents are looking to pay a bill, find available appointment times, locate a provider, or check resources, Fabric’s AI Assistant responds instantly and guides patients to the next best step. If a question turns clinical, Fabric seamlessly transitions the patient into virtual care or flags them for escalation—reducing the burden on call centers and driving revenue.
Streamline Care Delivery
Fabric streamlines care delivery by guiding patients through a series of adaptive symptom-based questions and structuring their responses into a concise SOAP-style note. Providers can review, diagnose, and treat in just 89 seconds for virtual visits—10 times faster than traditional in-person or video appointments.
Automate Patient Engagement
Ongoing patient engagement is crucial for effective care. Fabric helps identify potential health concerns early and keeps patients actively involved in their care journey with timely reminders, proactive automated follow-ups, personalized reminders, and pre/post-visit information. These automated interactions improve adherence to treatment plans, strengthen care continuity, and ultimately lead to better patient outcomes.
Access is Built on Connection
Expanding access isn’t about stacking more tools—it’s about creating a connected strategy. When every solution works together, care becomes more efficient, more scalable, and more human.
Fabric connects every touchpoint to increase capacity, reduce friction, and improve outcomes—so health systems can do more with what they have.
- Guide patients seamlessly from digital discovery to appropriate care
- Streamline intake, triage, and routing with AI-powered decision trees
- Reduce provider time on documentation by automating redundant tasks
- Drive follow-up engagement to improve outcomes and patient loyalty
- Integrate across systems to eliminate silos and improve efficiency
Access depends on connection. That’s why Fabric is building smarter systems that connect every touchpoint to improve access, capacity, and outcomes for everyone.
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This article is part of All Access Summer—a three-month series focused on helping health systems, health plans, and employers expand access to high-quality care. Don’t miss our expert panel discussion designed specifically for health system leaders looking to drive meaningful change. Follow us on LinkedIn and use #AllAccessSummer for the latest updates.
