Published on MSN, March 6, 2024.

While the patient should be the center of the healthcare universe, patients often find themselves navigating a disjointed system with disconnected pathways. This makes the patient journey a frustrating one filled with obstacles. Overwrought by complex deductibles, a jumbled healthcare history between different providers and insurancers, and a severe lack of transparency in costs often leaves patients finding themselves navigating a disjointed system. Navigating the complexities of the healthcare world makes the patient journey a frustrating one filled with obstacles and has been a longstanding challenge that seems to be getting more difficult.

The evolution of EHR’s

The market has undergone a transformation. Take the transition from paper-based medical records to electronic health records (EHRs). Initially, the adoption of EHRs was driven by regulatory measures that forced providers to comply. Mustafa Dinani Founder and CEO of Navierre, a healthtech solution, explains, “This is where the problem got created, because the primary purpose of the EHR was to enable the doctors to write their medical notes and then submit it to insurance to get reimbursed; it was a billing software. It was not for holistic patient care. So the primary customer here became the provider, and the primary purpose was billing.”

While the EHRs helped a lot of companies grow, it didn’t solve the disconnect for patients. Dinani elaborates, “Although the patient is the most important part of this healthcare system, provider reimbursement was at the heart of EHRs. The patient still had very little access to their health records even though they were in digital form. The technology didn't enable the patient to be at the center of the healthcare universe. Instead, the patient became the ping pong in this universe. And everybody would bat them around.”

While patients imagined these EHRs would create a world where their healthcare data was more accessible and convenient, EHRs didn’t translate to ownership. In fact, existing laws emphasize that the providers own medical records, and patients merely have the right to access them. To add insult to injury, the EHRs don’t make it easier to seek care from other networks, specialists or providers; in fact, patients feel trapped by the limited access to their medical records. It’s created an environment where staying with your current physician is easier than navigating a complex network to get the care they need and deserve. “It has created a system of friction,” emphasizes Dinani.

Fortunately for patients, a slight shift occurred, where patient frustration led to demand. They wanted access to their records, a way to schedule appointments, and see their telehealth providers. Feeling the pressure, healthcare networks and their EHR technology providers were forced to meet these patient needs to retain “customers.” Dinani explains, “Medical providers and EHRs were forced to comply, but they didn’t want to change their technology because they were so deeply entrenched. So they outsourced the problem. For example, they found a partner provider to move from paper check-in to digital. To solve the need for a portal, they went to another provider, and so on. So, in many ways, their approach to their “flat tires” (ineffective EHRs) was and is by plugging the tires instead of going and buying a new tire.”

Navierre, a solution for outdated EHRs, disconnected care and cost obscurity

Fortunately, new legislation like the 21st Century Cures Act mandates price transparency in healthcare services. Despite challenges in implementation, Dinani envisions a future where healthcare becomes consumerized, emphasizing the importance of price awareness in addressing these issues.

More importantly, the Cures Act empowers patients by granting them direct access to their records through existing EHR technologies or indirectly through any app of their choice. This shift has paved the way for innovative solutions like Mustafa Dinani’s Navierre, which leverages the freedom granted by the legislation to allow patients to access their health data across various healthcare providers.

Navierre is a holistic healthcare platform that addresses this disjointed, ineffective, and frustrating system by prioritizing the patient; revolutionizing patient care and management. By aggregating health data from various sources into a unified 'health wallet,' Navierre diverges from traditional Electronic Health Records (EHRs). Instead, Navierre prioritizes patients, offering seamless access to their information anytime, anywhere; an end to multiple portals and credentials.

Navierre’s solution also eliminates the need to start over with each doctor visit or change in healthcare circumstances. By creating a comprehensive 'health wallet,' Navierre ensures vital information is not lost, thus providing transparency and continuity in care. It empowers patients to make informed decisions without being hindered by system friction or data restrictions. This is particularly crucial in situations like moving to a new city or requiring specialized care.

Navierre is a pioneer of what is possible with patient access; however, this is just the beginning. As technology and pro-patient regulations continue to evolve, Navierre opens the door for users to access their health information more seamlessly. These regulations are critical in enabling this type of access, so that health data can easily flow. This newfound freedom enables patients to seek the best care options, unconstrained by system friction and data restrictions. Dinani expresses that “this will empower patients to own their health journey, find the care they need, and control their health outcomes.”

While Navierre could have been a direct-to-consumer product, its creative market strategies position it as a holistic solution for patients and medical practices. Rapidly gaining popularity with 30,000 users in just one year, Navierre is quickly becoming the go-to solution for efficient and patient-centered healthcare management, and it is easy to see why.

As it gains momentum, Navierre is allowing patients to be the “center of the universe.” It is shaping the present and future of healthcare by simplifying the experience for everyone involved. With a commitment to making healthcare 'plain and simple,' Navierre represents an exciting advancement in the industry. Notably, Navierre was just selected in the USA Today list, “8 Startups Changing the Game in 2024”.

Discover how Navierre can transform your healthcare journey by creating your health wallet today.