Project Summary

The Sutter Sherpa is a digital, AI-enhanced care companion designed to support the patient care journey by acting as a "sherpa" for navigating healthcare. It aims to facilitate appointment scheduling, provide care reminders, assist with care navigation (including wayfinding at Sutter care sites), and connect patients with the right resources, such as billing or insurance help. The Sutter Sherpa is intended to increase patient engagement, reduce gaps in the care journey, and improve accessibility and satisfaction for patients managing their healthcare experiences.

Recommended App Features

1. Patient App:

   • Purpose: To provide patients with a centralized tool for managing their healthcare journey, including automated scheduling, care reminders, and easy access to assistance.
   • Reasoning: The primary aim of Sutter Sherpa is to help patients navigate their healthcare journey in an easier, less stressful manner. A patient app would serve as the central hub where all of these support features—such as automated appointment scheduling, reminders, wayfinding, and connecting with live support for billing questions—can be accessed in a streamlined way.
   • Benefit for the Project: Increases patient engagement and satisfaction by making it easy for users to manage all aspects of their care from their phone. This app would provide a seamless experience by offering the right support at the right time, effectively guiding the patient throughout their health journey.
   • Benefit for Sutter Health Culture: Supports Sutter Health’s mission of making healthcare more patient-centric by improving convenience, accessibility, and providing a more connected healthcare experience. It also highlights Sutter Health's focus on leveraging technology to enhance the quality of care and patient interaction.

2. Collaborative Messaging or Community Features:

   • Purpose: To allow patients and their designated "co-sherpas" (family members, caregivers, or healthcare navigators) to communicate effectively.
   • Reasoning: Some patients might need extra support from loved ones or other care providers to help manage their healthcare. By including community messaging features, the app would allow designated supporters to assist in making appointments, receiving reminders, and managing follow-up actions, which can be especially helpful for older adults or patients with complex health needs.
   • Benefit for the Project: Encourages patient engagement and retention by ensuring patients have the support they need. It also helps in fostering collaboration between patients and their support network, ensuring a comprehensive approach to healthcare.
   • Benefit for Sutter Health Culture: Reinforces the community-oriented values of Sutter Health by promoting involvement of loved ones in the patient’s healthcare journey. This aligns with the organization's holistic approach, emphasizing family and community participation in health and well-being.

3. Care-Giver App:

   • Purpose: To provide professional caregivers, such as nurses and therapists, with real-time information about patient appointments, needs, and any issues that require follow-up.
   • Reasoning: Nurses and other care providers play a crucial role in supporting the patient journey. An app designed specifically for professional caregivers would ensure they have the information needed to proactively address patient needs and stay updated on the patient’s care journey.
   • Benefit for the Project: Improves coordination and communication between patients and caregivers, reducing gaps in care. It ensures that healthcare professionals have timely access to updates that might impact their care decisions.
   • Benefit for Sutter Health Culture: Aligns with Sutter Health’s focus on coordinated and high-quality care. By equipping care providers with information and resources, it helps ensure that care remains proactive and responsive, contributing to better patient outcomes.

Recommended App Mix and Benefits

A mix of a patient-focused app, collaborative messaging/community features, and a care-giver app would provide the most value for the Sutter Sherpa initiative.

1. Benefits to the Project:

• Patient Engagement and Empowerment: The patient app allows users to easily navigate their care journey, including scheduling and accessing support services, ultimately improving patient satisfaction.
• Comprehensive Support Network: Collaborative messaging allows patients to involve family or care navigators, ensuring they get the support they need in managing appointments and healthcare decisions.
• Proactive Professional Care: The caregiver app allows professional staff to stay informed and act on patient needs efficiently, thus enhancing care quality and reducing potential delays.

2. Supporting Sutter Health's Culture and Brand:

• Patient-Centric Approach: The Sutter Sherpa project supports Sutter Health’s core value of putting patients first by empowering them to take control of their health journey.
• Community and Family Engagement: By involving both professional caregivers and family members, the initiative underscores the importance of collaborative and community-oriented healthcare, which is central to Sutter Health’s vision.
• Innovative Health Navigation: Emphasizing technological assistance in healthcare navigation aligns Sutter Health with modern, AI-driven solutions, demonstrating a forward-thinking and patient-focused brand.