Hospitals must look to the future to get the most out of their technology investments. Administrators can compare the price tag of new IT systems packages, but cost considerations should include ease of implementation, time required for staff training, interface with existing systems, data security and the use of lightweight encryption that does not become cumbersome for the larger system. .
Technology in the hospital setting is no longer just a chip that automatically cycles the blood pressure cuff at scheduled intervals. Software programs control the collection and storage of data in all aspects of patient care; from the physical examinations of admission of the patient to the elaboration of the invoice. Technology is an element of the modern hospital budget and it is not going away.
Traditionally, hospital information technology and healthcare IT in general have made use of many parallel systems with overlapping parts. The data entry points that were developed to store information about patients evolved from multiple scenarios before computer network protocols allowed the transfer of electronic files between machines. Laboratory testing, MAR, (Medication Administration Records) and other electronically stored data sources progressed to computerized Kardexes, nursing care plans, physician-dictated operational reports, and nursing intervention checklists, to name a few. .
Good IT infrastructure country for itself. The hidden cost of maintaining outdated systems includes more than random call tickets for technical support. Frequent rebooting of buggy software can increase wait times for both patients and staff. The lack of reliable interfaces between systems degrades communication between departments. Unavailable lab results may cause repeat testing. Frustration and hostility from staff can result from having to work with poor equipment. The patient who observes the inefficiencies of the system can lose confidence.
Doctors, nurses, and other physicians rely on hospital information systems to meet the needs of patients.
Making healthcare data seamlessly accessible to providers translates into a more efficient bedside workflow. Limiting barriers to hospital workflow also improves patient outcomes.
Focus on shopping smart. Cheap is not always less expensive. Hospitals must look to the future to make the most of their investments in technology and data management.
Plan and implement your best hospital IT strategy.
- Staff survey on IT problem areas
- Set specific technology goals
- Create a technology panel that includes clinical end users, biomedical engineers, teachers, and administrators.
- Invite a variety of vendors to present or “pitch” their products to the Technology Panel
- Prepare questions and take notes
Short-term and long-term IT considerations.
- How will you improve the unit’s workflow?
- How much training will the staff require?
- Where else is the system implemented, how is it working?
- Is free technical support available, for how long?
- Does this system interact well with hardware and software already in use?
- Are patients’ rights to privacy safely protected?
- Can electronic records be transferred safely and efficiently?
- Can hospital IT administrators create custom data sets as needed?
- How much downtime does it take to maintain the system?
- Does this company rank high in customer service?
Get your team on board. Develop realistic goals for information technology, take thirty minutes to brainstorm in a staff meeting. List each team and each graphics system, likes and dislikes, problem areas. Develop questions for providers. Invite stakeholders, get your “end users” to invest in the process. Invest in technology that serves people. Decrease the amount of human resources spent serving technology, and it will be embraced by nurses, physicians, and other physicians who are the end-users.