According to the American Medical Association, nearly 60 percent of medical staff reported feeling burnt out. This can lead to medical mistakes, which can put patients’ lives at risk. Additionally, stress and overwork can cause clinicians to leave the profession altogether. It is estimated that by 2032 there will be a shortage of up to 122,000 physicians in the United States.
Digital health has been transforming the patient experience by improving access to care, engagement, and care delivery, but advancements are still needed to improve the lives of front-line caregivers. Clinicians, physicians, nurses, therapists, healthcare practitioners, and other medical staff are constantly bombarded with lengthy administrative tasks such as order entry, navigating through screens to check previous reports and prescriptions, or filling out clinical documentation forms.
A digitized healthcare system that supports caregivers’ workflows is critical to streamlining processes and reducing unnecessary work. An intuitive, easy to use, and collaborative system allows caregivers to focus their efforts on providing optimum patient care.
What do front-line caregivers need from a digitized healthcare system to improve their work experience?
- A system that handles administrative tasks: One of the main complaints from front line caregivers is the amount of administrative work they have to do. A digitized healthcare system could handle many of these tasks, such as order entry, clinical documentation and report entries. This would free up time for clinicians to provide care and improve their work-life balance.
- A system that is easy to use: Caregivers may be hesitant to adopt complicated digital health tools with large learning curves. A digitized healthcare system should be easy to use and allow them to focus on their patients, not the technology.
- A system that is customized for specialties: There are many different types of specialty caregivers, each with its own unique needs. A digitized healthcare system should be customizable for each specialty so that every specialty and patient can benefit.
- A system that helps with communication: Good communication is essential for providing care. A digitized healthcare system helps clinicians communicate with each other and their patients to improve care coordination and lead to better outcomes for patients.
- A system that is secure: One of the main concerns of caregivers is the security of digital health tools. A digitized healthcare system is built with security in mind so that they can feel confident that their patients’ information remains safe.
- A system that is interoperable: Lack of interoperability between digital healthcare practices is the major concern for providers. Digitized healthcare systems should be interoperable with each other so that they can easily share information and coordinate care.
- A system that is evidence-based and patient-centric: A digitized healthcare system should use evidence-based guidelines to help clinicians make the best decisions for their patients and keep patients at the center of all they do.
Adopting new technology can seem like a daunting task. Healthcare technology has many potentials to help organizations achieve their goals, but only when it is implemented correctly. It’s imperative we focus on creating a digitized healthcare ecosystem that is user friendly, patient centric, and cost effective. Only then will we be able to improve the quality of care for everyone involved in the care process.
Digital transformation can be a daunting and lengthy process, but it is worth investing in your organization’s future. With years of experience and expertise in the field, iPatientCare can help you overcome any challenges and help digitize your healthcare practice. iPatientCare offers robust healthcare solutions including an electronic health record (EHR), practice management system (PMS), and revenue cycle management (RCM).
If you want to learn more about how we can help you digitize your practice, then contact us today. We are happy to answer any questions you have.
