The last three decades have seen a monumental rise in the use of digital technologies across all sectors and healthcare is no exception. Deployed strategically, technology can be used to streamline workflows, automate repetitive tasks, reduce employee workloads and improve quality for customers.
Despite the benefits on offer however, many care providers have failed to keep pace with the latest innovations, with many struggling to find the resources to upgrade systems and adopt new solutions.
How Digital change can benefit care providers
In a sector that is now synonymous with time pressure and stretched resources, technology can be an agent for efficiency that allows more to be achieved with the same level of resources.
Many care practices have already replaced time-consuming paper-based tasks with slick electronic processes, with the likes of staff roster management and prescription ordering now done online of via cloud-hosted software. E-rostering is great example of how innovation can improve workplace efficiency: a process that was once done using pen and paper is now routinely carried out using software tailored to care settings, with features designed to improve staff resource management and reduce the administrative burden for managers.
The use of mobile devices has become common among community nurses, with devices like tablets and laptops providing remote access to patient records and ensuring that staff always have the most up-to-date information regarding each patient to hand. These devices are also useful for managing emails on the go, and allow staff to make video calls from any location.
The paper-less or paper-lite practices we’ve mentioned offer many advantages compared to the manual processes they replace. For example, centrally stored digital records can be easily disseminated among teams and across locations as required, and they give staff access to single-source-of-truth data relevant to each patient. Digital records are also more secure, as they aren’t prone to loss, damage or theft in the same way that paper records are.
Existing technologies used in the care sector are illustrative of the benefits available from embracing digital transformation as a whole, with technology making more time for high quality patient interactions by minimising time spent on routine admin and data handling.
How can digital change improve the patient experience?
For patients living alone or who suffer from mobility issues that prohibit socialising, visits from care staff can be a much valued social interaction. By reducing the burden of paperwork and admin, care staff can spend more time delivering the person-centred care that is so essential for mental wellbeing.
Rather than act as a substitute for in-person visits, technology can bridge the gap between encounters, with remote monitoring ensuring that patients remain in a healthy, stable condition when healthcare personnel are not present. Key data such as heart rate, stress levels, sleep patterns and oxygen levels can be remotely monitored using smart devices and even mobile apps.
Technology can also help deliver customised treatment plans, more effective diagnoses and aid in early intervention. By combining the data gathered by wearable devices and mobile apps with manually taken measurements, observations, reported symptoms and current medications, data analysis software can be used to prescribe the optimum course of treatment/care, ultimately resulting in improved patient outcomes.
While by no means a substitute for in-person care, digital technologies can give patients the option to access certain services remotely. Using video-capable devices, care staff can help service users access primary care services (such as GPs) or specialist advice via video link, providing a convenient alternative and giving patients greater control over how they choose to access their care.
What should care providers consider before adopting new technologies?
Before you introduce any new digital solutions to your business, it’s important to assess your preparedness to adopt the changes you have in mind and consider how new technology would fit into your current infrastructure. This concept is often referred to as ‘digital readiness,’ and is vital to ensuring your business gets the most out of any new tech deployments.
This is best does in conjunction with your IT provider, and ideally a provider who understands technology in the care sector. The following three questions can be used as a basis for assessing your digital readiness:
- Are your staff tech-proficient enough to get the most from new digital technology? When it comes to introducing new technology to any business it’s important to ensure staff have the digital skills necessary to take full advantage of the investment. Consider whether digital skills training might be required before introducing changes.
- Can your current infrastructure have the capacity? Whether you want to introduce staff rota software, enable digitalised patient record sharing or adopt a new reporting system, it’s important to consider whether your current IT system has the capacity to cope. Your IT provider can help you assess the likely impact of new software on network performance and help advise on suitable devices for enabling the remote management of patient records.
- Is your current technology secure enough? It’s important to consider whether current devices and infrastructure will be able to safeguard the sensitive healthcare data you hold and maintain the confidentiality of patient records as per UK GDPR stipulations and CQC guidance. Consider for example, the controls that might have to be put in place to ensure that remote devices are secure, only accessible by authorised personnel and how data might be recovered in the event of device theft or destruction.
Other ways digital technology is being used in the care sector
There are countless examples of revolutionary technologies in healthcare and social care settings, many of which bring benefits to staff and patients alike. In addition to some of the examples we’ve already discussed, here are a few more worthy of consideration:
Medicine Stock management systems
These smart software systems are designed to make managing medicine inventories easier, allowing medicines to be dispensed faster and with greater accuracy.
Night-time monitoring systems
Using sensors, microphones and cameras, night-time monitoring systems allow care staff to remotely monitor the condition of patients without disturbing them during the night. Some systems integrate with smart phones and utilise AI to detect signs of distress or other anomalous behaviours.
Digital Care Plans
Accessible via portable devices, digital care plans are a convenient alternative to paper-based care plans and written notes. Featuring tick-box to-do lists, intuitive interfaces and the ability to issue and respond to tasks remotely, digital care plans are another system designed to lessen the burden of admin and free up more time for quality one-to-one care.
Reporting Systems
Reporting software pulls data from multiple sources to create instantly meaningful and readable insights. Systems tailored to care providers are available which allow patient-focussed reports to be put together in seconds, improving business efficiency and enabling staff to provide data-driven care.
Conclusion
While care providers have been more keen to embrace new technologies in recent years, data suggests only 30-40% care providers are fully digitised. By embracing digital transformation, you can give your care staff more time to focus on delivering quality, patient-centred care, and give your business a competitive advantage in a sector that, so far, has been slow to modernise.
Why choose JMV Solutions?
Since 2012, JMV Solutions has provided IT support for a wide range of small and medium sized businesses throughout Exeter, Devon and Cornwall. Our company is formed of a personable, friendly and expert team of IT and Security experts that have your best interests at heart. We protect your business, your valuable data, and help sustain your compliance requirements against a rapidly growing cyber threat. Contact us today to learn more.
