Online support for employees with chronic conditions

When an employee is diagnosed with a chronic condition, understanding how to deal with it effectively is key to managing it well and maintaining good health.

It's also important to feel they aren't alone

Dr Noluthando Nematswerani, Head of the Centre for Clinical Excellence at Discovery Health, says, "Although patients mainly rely on their doctors for information, connecting with other people who have the same condition provides more empowerment and support. In our highly digitally connected world, this often happens online. Most recently, through the COVID-19 pandemic - when many people have been isolated and stayed away from medical facilities for fear of exposure to COVID-19 - people have turned to online support and advice more than ever before."

"However, it's important that the information accessed online is true, relevant to a particular situation and helpful in managing the condition. The wrong advice can cause real harm. That's where online patient communities meet a very real need."

Support and guidance for patients and caregivers

Online patient communities are patient-led, online groups where patients, caregivers, doctors, researchers and others come together and focus on a particular condition. They share stories, offer support and information, and even develop solutions where needed.

To enhance the support that Discovery Health Medical Scheme offers to members living with diabetes and heart disease, and those impacted by long COVID, Discovery Health has partnered with MyHealthTeam, a global leader in managing highly effective online patient communities.

"From January this year, qualifying scheme members and their loved ones and caregivers have access to a digital community of patients living with the same illness - and credible online resources - to help them manage their condition," says Dr Nematswerani.

• MyHealthTeam has more than a decade of experience in delivering highly effective digital patient communities. MyHealthTeam manages 41 condition-specific communities for more than 2.5 million patients worldwide.

Members of Discovery Health Medical Schemes have access to:

1. Online patient communities for members living with diabetes, heart disease and long COVID
2. Full time myHealthTeam dedicated Discovery support team community moderators
3. A dedicated resource hub with information to empower them to manage their condition
4. An in-house team of local and international medical experts
5. Curated and relevant clinical content and resources specific to the condition
6. Regular blogs and live question and answer (Q & A) sessions with a panel of local and international medical experts.

Six reasons to join an online patient community:

1. Social support: Employees can connect with people living with the same chronic illness to exchange real-world health experiences and stories.
2. Moderation of content by experts: Medical experts are actively engaged in the community to moderate all conversations and patient-to-patient exchanges.
3. Condition-specific, curated content: The latest news on clinical treatments and advances in research.
4. Empowerment for better health: Online patient communities empower patients, encourage adherence to treatment and therapy, and promote effective self-management. Belonging to a digital patient community can help employees get healthier and improve their quality of life. A review of online patient communities, published in 2021, found that these communities supported patient empowerment by meeting the patient's emotional needs in handling their condition. They also supported the process and outcomes of patient empowerment.
5. Digital access extends support to more people, for example, in situations where elderly or sick people cannot attend a physical support group.
6. Online patient communities give patients and caregivers access to resources and insights into how conditions affect their loved ones, and how to support them.

Dr Nematswerani adds: "These benefits easily explain why, over the past decade, online patient communities have really taken hold globally. They empower patients to take control of their health and wellbeing in many ways. They also place value on the patient experience, as people are more likely to trust insights from those who have walked in their shoes. Online patient communities are also a safe and secure online space. They are an excellent supplement to traditional face-to-face healthcare access. And, they can really raise awareness and knowledge about the condition and empower people to take ownership of their health."

Why focus on diabetes, heart disease and long COVID?

Globally, there is an increasing number of people living with chronic illnesses. This is driven largely by an ageing population and unhealthy lifestyles.

Almost 500 000 members of Discovery Health Medical Scheme have diabetes or a heart disease, and at least 22% of members are diagnosed with both conditions. Over the past five years, there has been a 43% increase in the number of members who have registered for diabetes treatment.

Between 10% and 30% of people who contract COVID-19 experience persisting or new symptoms for longer than three weeks after the acute phase of their illness. Globally, people in this position say they often struggle to manage their symptoms and feel stigmatised and unsupported.

"Long COVID may result in long-term health problems. Appropriate clinical guidance coupled with access to up-to-date, relevant and curated clinical information can help patients deal with this condition better," says Dr Nematswerani.

How employees can access online patient communities through Discovery

These online community platforms are available for free to:

• All Discovery Health Medical Scheme members diagnosed with heart disease, diabetes or long COVID (they don't have to be registered on the Chronic Illness Benefit to sign up)
• Their family members, friends or caregivers.