Sink or Swim: 2020 Has Transformed Healthcare. Healthcare Companies Must Modernize these (3) Areas To Keep Up.

by | Jan 15, 2021 | IT Solutions

COVID-19 has challenged every industry – healthcare, however, has been uniquely impacted by this international health crisis. Companies in the healthcare space have been forced to respond and transform with extreme immediacy, putting pressure on nearly every core function. Delivering remote healthcare services, organizing sensitive, critical data, and equipping providers with the training and knowledge needed to enable them to properly care for their patients, are just some of the challenges companies face.

2021 is here – a new start, and a fresh chance for businesses to deliver, differentiate, and succeed. Here are (3) key areas healthcare companies must thoroughly address if they want to keep up with a rapidly changing landscape.

Rinse, Press, Organize, Repeat: Digitizing Data 

Tackling workflow inefficiencies related to patient data/information is the only way to ensure that patients are receiving the most informed, critical care they need. A thorough data strategy should cover cleaning, organization, storage, security, and interoperability of data. Failure to properly address all of these areas leads to plenty of negatives in the short term – the long-term consequences are even more dire. Don’t underestimate the impact – invest in building out a thorough data strategy and strong foundation now and you’ll find yourself at a serious advantage later down the line.

IoT – The more information a company has on its patients, the more capable they are in effectively navigating each individuals’ healthcare needs. Big data grants immense life-saving potential…but it’s difficult to organize, protect, and store without a robust system and the right processes in place. The benefits of housing big data are extensive – smarter delivery of healthcare, reduced maintenance, lower medication costs, enhanced services and procedures…the list goes on and on.  

Data Interoperability – real-time data sharing & communication with other organizations can bring immense value to a patient in need of critical care. Having robust, accessible data is invaluable, but if a company is unable to share the data effectively, a patient may not receive the services they desperately need. 

Requirement/Solution: clean data & create data platforms & infrastructure to help incumbents/consumers make quick, informed health decisions.

Creating A Care Delivery System 

Partnerships between the many organizations involved in delivering healthcare can hold massive benefits for both companies and patients. Close relationships between healthcare providers, insurance companies, credit card companies, and other involved entities hold the potential to significantly improve efficiency by pooling resources and streamlining communications between key players. In addition to the impact on workflow, these partnerships can help keep patient data more organized and secure and offer patients benefits like longer repayment periods for out-of-pocket expenses, lower interest rates, and more affordable options to ensure they’re getting the care they deserve.
 
Solution/Requirement: to offer greater access to treatment methods patients require, insurance providers, healthcare systems, and credit card companies must operate as an efficient system. 

 
“One of the biggest problems today is the lack of transparency and the inability for the average consumer to make informed decisions about their health care, particularly to avail themselves of – who to see, where to go, when to go is a complete mystery.”

End-User Support and Maximizing Access to Care

Providing patients with user-friendly, organized, and effective virtual health tools is an absolutely critical part of patient healthcare right now. Visiting the office poses a substantial danger for at-risk patients. With a large part of the at-risk group being comprised of elderly patients who are less skilled at operating technology, companies must take extra steps to deliver Telehealth that’s accessible. Robust customer education and support is essential – users should be able to refer to clear directions and/or connect with someone who can provide the assistance they need to access the services they require.

Solution/Requirement: Don’t let end-user support and education be an afterthought. Platforms using predictive analytics to improve quality and health outcomes and enable providers to deliver more informed care with less patient engagement – even so, clear direction (like tutorial videos) and in-person customer support that is highly trained and readily available, are key to ensuring patients can operate Telehealth applications.

 

Delivering on all of these key areas requires a substantial amount of resources that you may not have on hand. Your business shouldn’t be forced to cut things out – or even cut corners – deploy external entities and resources to help you execute in a timely, effective way. Do right by your business and your constituents and consider investing in IT support. Interapt can help you ensure that your focus remains on providing quality care by managing the moving parts and resources required to build a seamless, exceptional experience for your patients.

By the end of the year, your decision to prioritize in the (3) areas above will have you standing far apart from the crowd – we genuinely believe that . Let us help you in every way we can.

Invest in a strong digital foundation – the benefits to your business are endless, and your patients will thank you for it.

 

 

 

Bring in external support to manage key functions like data management, customer support, digital application development, and more.

 

  

Consider partnerships with the different types of companies involved in the care delivery process to create a seamless care delivery system.

 

 

interapt is here to help.