The Benefits and Challenges of Keeping Your Healthcare Technology Current
Across the spectrum of healthcare facilities, technology is instrumental in improving patient safety, optimizing emergency response, and promoting a safe environment. By combining cutting-edge technology with the expertise of medical professionals, healthcare organizations can create a comprehensive safety strategy to prioritize the welfare of staff and patients. But implementing technology can be challenging without a knowledgeable approach — and antiquated systems can quickly become liabilities.
Technology systems are critical in healthcare
In healthcare settings, technology’s primary role is enhancing the quality of care and ensuring the safety of patients and employees. For example, in senior living communities, technological advancements have proven indispensable. Emergency call systems provide residents with a lifeline to immediate assistance, enabling them to summon help swiftly in case of medical emergencies.
Moreover, for residents with cognitive impairments, wander management systems act as a protective shield, reducing the risks associated with wandering and ensuring their safety within the community. These technologies not only grant peace of mind to the residents but also offer reassurance to their families and caregivers, fostering a secure and nurturing environment.
Similarly, in hospitals and skilled nursing facilities, technology-driven solutions have revolutionized the way healthcare is administered. Nurse call systems streamline communication between patients and staff, enabling prompt responses to patient needs and reducing wait times. Fall prevention technology — including bed alarms and motion sensors — has proven to be essential in mitigating fall-related injuries among patients.
Even real-time locating systems (RTLS) optimize care delivery by locating medical equipment and personnel, promoting operational efficiency and minimizing disruptions. Along with access-control systems to safeguard sensitive areas and protect patient privacy, technology facilitates everyday interactions in healthcare settings.
Benefits of keeping healthcare technology current
The ability of these innovative systems to improve care and safety is only as good as the technology. In other words, healthcare facilities must stay up to date with the solutions they deploy. Organizations prioritizing these investments will unlock significant benefits, such as:
Enhanced patient care and safety: Keeping healthcare technology current has a profound impact on patient care and safety. For example, automated medication-dispensing systems have safeguards to reduce the risk of medication errors, while state-of-the-art remote monitoring devices offer advanced features to check vital signs and detect potential issues.
Improved efficiency and workflow: Modern healthcare technology drives efficiency and streamlines workflow across various settings. The clearest example is telehealth, which enables everything from virtual consultations to remote monitoring. Another example is secure messaging platforms, which facilitate communication between healthcare professionals to promote swift decision-making and seamless collaboration.
Cost savings and financial benefits: Updating technology can lead to substantial cost savings and financial benefits for healthcare facilities. By reducing risk and liability through technology-driven solutions, healthcare providers can avoid costly legal battles and medical malpractice expenses.
Healthcare technology systems are investments capable of paying for themselves — given the right attention to deployment and maintenance. Facility managers, clinical leaders, and IT leaders must work together to identify relevant use cases within each environment and make concerted decisions about when and how to deploy technology for the greatest impact.
Challenges of keeping technology current
Keeping healthcare technology current comes with its fair share of challenges. At the forefront, obsolescence and compatibility issues pose significant hurdles. Upgrading legacy systems can be a complex task — especially if these systems aren’t ready to integrate with newer technology.
Moreover, interoperability challenges further exacerbate the problem and can prevent seamless data exchanges, which are vital for operations. Even staff training and adoption can be difficult if the reliance on older technology has been prolonged.
Financial considerations and resource allocation also present formidable obstacles in keeping technology up to date. Budget constraints often force healthcare organizations to carefully prioritize technology investments, making it challenging to implement comprehensive upgrades. Balancing capital expenses with long-term benefits is a delicate process, and presenting a case to organizational leaders isn’t always easy.
Furthermore, maintaining ongoing support and maintenance for technology upgrades can strain already limited resources, especially in smaller healthcare facilities with limited IT staff and expertise. Finding the right balance between investment and sustainability is essential to overcome these financial challenges and keep healthcare technology current.
Technology supports caregivers
Healthcare technology systems should be at the forefront of your next facility evaluation. Are your systems current? If not, which features or capabilities are they lacking — and what liabilities does this invite? Check incident reports and compliance infractions to identify areas where technology investments could bridge the gap. Don’t wait for a tragedy to trigger an investment in system improvements.
Learn more about the benefits of updating your healthcare technology systems at trlsystems.com.