Harnessing Technology to Ease the Healthcare Workforce Shortage
Health workers are the cog that keeps hospitals running. Our incredible healthcare staff work tirelessly to deliver the very best patient care every day. This is why growing workforce shortages have quickly become a key worry for the industry.
WHO (World Health Organisation) estimates a projected shortfall of 10 million health workers by 2030 across the world. This is primarily due to a chronic under-investment in the education and training of health workers. The impact of this shortage will be felt across all areas of the healthcare sector. Staffing shortages can lead to reduced quality of care, longer waiting times, lower patient satisfaction, and financial challenges.
To address these issues, the healthcare sector is already developing long-term solutions to increase the number of people entering or retaining a career in healthcare. But this is not all that can be done. Hospitals can significantly reduce the existing demand for staff by deploying technological enhancements that improve productivity and reduce manual tasks.
Utilising technology is a game-changer in addressing the workforce shortage. Hospitals can create workflow efficiencies, reduce the stresses of overworked staff, and facilitate the retention of healthcare professionals.
Here are our top 3 technology that can alleviate workforce shortages in healthcare:
Telehealth and Remote Work Solutions
Since the widespread adoption of remote working, almost every industry has benefitted from virtual software. Hospitals can also reap these benefits. By introducing virtual consultation software, such as Compucare Microsoft Teams integration, health professionals no longer need to be in dedicated rooms within a hospital building to deliver care. It enables healthcare staff to work flexibly and expand their reach to a broader patient base.
AI-Driven Automation
AI is innovating and disrupting every aspect of our lives. It has the potential to speed up and improve processes across the board. Data collection and highly predictable activities can be automated through AI to reduce time spent on timely manual admin, giving staff more freedom to focus on delivering first-rate care.
One of the biggest potential benefits to healthcare is how AI can be used to keep people healthy, reducing their need to visit a doctor. It is also being used to detect diseases earlier, meaning earlier access to treatment and less stress on healthcare in the long term.
EPR/EHR and Digital Documentation
The majority of healthcare providers and trusts use EPR software to store, share and record their patient data. It is proven to improve operational efficiencies and optimise patient care through digitisation. However, there is a number of hospitals that still use paper-based methods to record this data.
Implementing an Electronic Patient Records solution, such as Compucare EPR, in your hospital will digitise your documents, reducing manual paperwork for staff. It also enhances data accessibility and reduces human error through centralised digital records. With these improvements, staff will benefit from huge time-saving efficiencies in their daily processes.
Implementing Technology in Private Hospitals To Reduce Workforce Shortage Issues
Of course, we must consider the cost and time it takes to implement new technology. But with a global shortage of staff that requires a long-term systematic solution, it is clear that the way technology can reduce the demand and stress on existing staff will pay off massively in the meantime.
By leveraging these different technologies, private hospitals can optimise their hospital productivity, enhance operational efficiency, and mitigate the impact of workforce shortages on patient care and overall healthcare delivery.