Hospitals must look to the future to make the most of their technology investments. Managers 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 coding that doesn’t become cumbersome for the larger system. .
Technology in the hospital environment 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 patient’s admission physical exams to the creation of the invoice. Technology is an item in the budget of modern hospitals and it is not going away.
Traditionally, Hospital Information Technology, and Health IT in general, has made use of many parallel systems with overlapping parts. Data entry points that were developed to store information about patients grew out of multiple arenas before computer networking protocols allowed the transfer of electronic files between machines. Laboratory tests, MARs (medication administration records), and other electronically stored data sources became computerized Kardex, nursing care plans, physician-dictated operative reports, and nursing intervention checklists, to name a few. .
A good IT infrastructure pays for itself. The hidden cost of maintaining outdated systems includes more than random call tickets for technical support. Frequent reboots of faulty software can increase wait times for both patients and staff. The lack of reliable interfaces between systems degrades interdepartmental communication. Missing lab results may cause tests to be repeated. Staff frustration and hostility can result from having to work with poor equipment. The patient who sees inefficiencies in the system may lose confidence.
Doctors, nurses, and other clinical professionals rely on hospital information systems to meet the needs of patients.
Making healthcare data seamlessly accessible to providers translates into more efficient workflow at the bedside. Limiting workflow barriers in the hospital also improves patient outcomes.
Focus on buying 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.
- Survey staff 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.
IT considerations in the short and long term.
- How will you improve the workflow of the unit?
- 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 interface well with hardware and software already in use?
- Are patients’ rights to privacy securely protected?
- Can electronic records be transferred safely and efficiently?
- Can hospital IT administrators create custom data sets as needed?
- How much downtime is needed 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 at a staff meeting. List each team and each chart system, likes and dislikes, problem areas. Develop questions for providers. Invite stakeholders, get your “end users” involved in the process. Invest in technology at the service of people. Decrease the amount of human resources that are dedicated to servicing the technology, and it will be adopted by nurses, doctors, and other physicians who are the ultimate end users.
