Many benefits can be derived from integrating technology into healthcare. It includes improving patient care, lowering costs, and increasing patient safety.
Integrated technology helps ensure that everyone involved in a patient’s medical care – from the primary care physician (PCP) and clinical specialists to the family – can easily access health information.
Improved Patient Care
The fact that technology is being used more and more in healthcare is one of its best features. For instance, the CEO at TapestryHealth, Mark Hirschhorn, explains how using the excellent electronic health record (EHR) system may make it simpler for doctors to obtain patient data and financial information.
When healthcare professionals have digital access to their patient’s records, they can ensure that all the details are correct and up-to-date. The hospital and its patients can spend less time and money by lowering the possibility of errors.
Another benefit of integrating technology into healthcare is that it can help to improve patient safety. In the event of an error, a promising technological solution can help identify the problem and develop solutions to prevent it from occurring again.
Ultimately, patient safety is a multidisciplinary endeavor that requires all staff to consider it a priority. Hospitals can only accomplish this by empowering their nurses to put safety first and providing them with the tools they need to do their jobs well.
Reduced Costs
In the healthcare industry, technology plays an essential role in reducing costs. New systems like electronic health records allow nurses and other medical professionals to input and store data electronically, allowing for easier access and less time spent on paperwork.
These systems also reduce the risk of errors in patient data and financial details and provide a centralized place for doctors to retrieve health information. It saves money, as physicians and nurses can work from home, avoiding the need to travel to a clinic for data entry.
In addition to lowering costs, technology can improve care coordination and communication throughout the healthcare continuum. A Center for Healthcare Research and Transformation report found that poor communication and care coordination can lead to various problems, including medication errors, hospital readmissions, procedure complications, and infection.
Improved Patient Safety
Patient safety is an issue that healthcare organizations must prioritize. In addition to being the third highest cause of death in the US, it is also costly for healthcare systems.
There are several strategies to increase patient safety, which is good news. Creating a culture that strongly emphasizes patient safety is one of the most efficient methods.
Another is to establish a transparent communication strategy between staff and patients. This strategy can help patients better understand their health and medical conditions.
In addition, it can help prevent misinformation and inaccuracies. It is because patients familiar with their medical condition and treatment options can identify potential discrepancies in the information they receive from their care providers.
Increased Patient Engagement
There are many benefits to integrating technology into healthcare, including increased patient engagement. It can be achieved through patient engagement strategies, such as patient education, shared decision-making, and patient outreach.
Patients are more likely to adhere to screening, diagnostic, and treatment plans when they know their health is in good hands and that their providers respect their decisions. It can help reduce ER visits and improve health outcomes.
However, it can be difficult for healthcare organizations to implement effective patient engagement strategies due to various factors. These include time constraints, lack of training, and information systems that may need to be fully equipped to support patient activation levels.
