COVID-19 challenged the healthcare industry in unprecedented ways. Healthcare providers were forced to do more with less time and limited resources. The pandemic also highlighted the importance of technology in the industry, and its impact on healthcare workers and patients. Here are four technology solutions that were instrumental to healthcare facilities battling COVID-19 during its 2020 onset.
Telemedicine
Healthcare providers turned to telehealth in the dawn of
the pandemic. According to the CDC, the number of telehealth visits during the
last week of March 2020 jumped 154 percent compared with the same
period in 2019. Telemedicine allowed - and continues to allow -
healthcare providers to virtually care for low-risk patients
and those who require follow up visits or routine check-ins. This
reduced the number of unnecessary visits to healthcare facilities -
lowering the rate of exposure for patients as well as healthcare
workers. Telemedicine also allows healthcare providers to share
patient information with one another and gives primary physicians
greater access to a wide range of specialists.
mHealth
Short for mobile health, mHealth refers to healthcare
that is supported by mobile devices. It gives patients the ability
to access their records, pay bills, fill prescriptions, and
schedule appointments anytime, anywhere. Some mHealth technologies
allowed healthcare providers to monitor COVID patients. Others were
used to predict symptom escalation for earlier intervention. There
are also apps that allow users to capture their own health data
without a healthcare provider's assistance. Many providers
discovered that 24/7 access to mHealth point-of-care tools results
in better decision making and improved patient outcomes.
Virtual Connection
To curb the spread of COVID, healthcare facilities
implemented strict visitation restrictions. Many facilities worked
quickly to discover new and innovative ways to connect patients
with their loved ones to provide a sense of comfort to patients and
reassurance to family members. Some initiated virtual
patient-visitor programs using patients' personal mobile phones or
tablets. Others installed video-intercom systems that allowed
patients to communicate with family and could also be used for
patient-to-clinician interactions. This allowed nurses to conduct
visual checks and decreased the amount of personal protective
equipment that is required when entering the room of an infected
patient.
Workforce Management
To meet the increasing demands for additional personnel
due to rising admissions and patient acuity, many healthcare
facilities turned to staff scheduling software. Software such as
ScheduleAnywhere ensured every shift was properly filled with
qualified individuals. The software also allowed healthcare
managers to instantly communicate with individuals, select groups,
or all employees to fill open shifts or relay important messages.
Additionally, scheduling software accurately tracks skills,
training, and credentials, which helped the facilities remain
compliant with federal, state, and administrative requirements.
As much as we would like to wipe the 2020 slate clean of many of its events, we would be remiss if we did not look back and learn from what they taught us. We learned that technology is ever evolving and when we embrace it, we can overcome even the biggest challenges.
Are you interested in exploring how staff scheduling software will simplify your scheduling process, ensure proper coverage, and improve communication? Start your 30-Day FREE trial of Schedule Anywhere today!
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