Remember the days when Communication Systems in hospitals meant pagers for doctors and speaking to an operator before getting transferred to a room for you? Those days are quickly disappearing as hospitals automate processes and make their communications infrastructure the focal point of that effort. Take a listen to this fascinating interview with Brian Edds, from Carousel partner Amcom Software, in which we discuss the ways hospitals are changing and the ways in which they are using data, mobile devices and communications systems to strealine processes, improve patient care and lower costs. Some of the topics we review include:
Mobility – The Impact of Consumer Devices on Hospital Communications
There has been an explosion in the number of communications devices in healthcare settings. Doctors (just like the rest of us) have smartphones and tablets now, and the market is shifting to accomodate. Streamlined messaging, device consolidation (the elimination of pagers), a growing list of users wanting updates on different topics, the types of data the drive notifications as well as organizations focused on automating business and patient care processes have fundamentally changed hospital communications.
Keys to Healthcare Communciations
What makes hospitals unique? Dealing with life and death situations is certainly one thing. We discuss some of the challenges and priorities that healthcare organizations need to address in their communications and technology platforms, including.
Deliverability – Making sure the right message, gets to the right person on the right device, right away. This used to be handled by operators getting a message and sending out a page…now it is handled via integrated databases, a communications platform and smartphones. It is critical that the communications system takes full advantage of cellular networks as well as the hospital WiFi systems for seamless on-site and external communications.
Traceability - Keeping logs of every message sent is vital in order to understand when the message was sent, who received it, and how they responded. Understanding the details leads to process improvements and improved patient care and outcomes.
Differentiation – Especially in a healthcare setting, clearly differentiating between an emergency message and a routine administrative notification is critical. How those different messages are presented on consumer devices is the key.
Security – Because of privacy considerations and regulations (HIPA) and how much more information is being passed back and forth to various constituents, security is critical in hospitals. We discuss the challenges that need to be addressed in the communications layer, the application layer and well as with the devices themselves.
Hospital Process Improvement – Moving Beyond Paging
Hospitals are in many ways leading the charge when it comes to process improvement as their drive to improve care and keep costs down is critical. Modern communications platforms like Amcom’s bring many more employees into the loop and make use of different data sources to make process improvements happen.
In order to ensure successful communications, Amcom needs to integrate with various web apps, like on-call and scheduling systems, patient directories and time tracking systems amongst others. Tying this into messaging is critical to success.
Additionally, data streams from devices and equipment is starting to come on-line. PulseOx systems, medical oxygen monitors, IV pumps, emergency equipment and fire alarms are all sending data streams of their own now. These notices have to go to right person and escalate to an emergency when necessary. This capability also brings a whole additional layer of employees into the communications system in the form of maintenance, housekeeping and IT personnel.
What’s Coming Next
According to Brian, we are just seeing the tip of the iceberg with the mobility revolution inside of hospitals. Watch for real-time imaging on tablets while doctors sit with you at bedside, unified communications and video conferencing and collaboration tools, and data retrieval on a handheld as opposed to walking across the hospital to the lab.
To learn more about the rapidly changing hospital, listen to this interview now. You’ll be glad you did. If you have any questions, ask away, using the comments form.
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