RECENT EVENTS
Home / Events
Top Five Hospital Digital Transformation Trends in 2021
The Covid-19 pandemic has pushed each sector of the economy to the brink of collapse. As healthcare providers enter the recovery phase and adjust to the new normal, implementation of digital transformation strategies ought to be at the top of their agendas. Fortunately, there is still time for organisations to become competitive using digital technology and leverage it to improve productivity, reduce staff burnout, and increase patient satisfaction scores.
Today, we will focus on the top five information systems and technology trends we have witnessed in the healthcare sector and how they can set a strong foundation for the future.
Electronic Medical Record (EMR)
As we move along, we see that most information is now digitised and stored in the cloud. Businesses are becoming more and more inclined towards cloud computing, and the healthcare sector is no exception. According to a KLAS report, the EMR buying trend prevailed in 2020 despite the pandemic, primarily fuelled by decisions among large organisations and standalone community hospitals.
Gone are the days when doctors had to carry heavy files while making rounds at the hospital. EMR makes things easier by allowing them easy access to a patient’s medical history, immunisation records, medication history, allergies etc. The EMR also provides access to information and resources that help doctors devise the best approach for various conditions at the point of care.
Remote Working
Healthcare providers are starting to integrate remote work solutions into their operations, not just as a short-term response to the Covid-19 situation, but also as a long-term strategy. For healthcare organisations, staff working from home include physicians/psychiatrists/therapists offering telehealth services, case managers, administrative, financial, IT teams, and others making contributions away from their workplaces.
A cloud-based operational management system allows staff to access a patient’s medical records and other related data remotely. With the right technology tool in the COVID-19 climate, infection risk is reduced through lessened physical contact while productivity and efficiency is maintained.
Artificial Intelligence
The role of Artificial Intelligence (AI) is now becoming increasingly important in the healthcare sector. According to HIMSS Media research, 59% of healthcare organisations, are or will be, leveraging AI specifically for resolving operational inefficiencies and 48% for optimising administrative and clinical workflows.
In 2020, many healthcare organisations started to see the value of AI for various applications, from supporting better clinical decision-making to improving operational efficiencies and extracting meaningful insights buried in a vast amount of data files. Despite these obvious advantages, a hospital still needs to choose a technology provider wisely, such as one with a deep understanding of leveraging such technology to optimise clinical, operational, and billing workflows in order to provide the best quality care.
Telemedicine
Some hospitals are gradually moving towards telemedicine during this pandemic. This will reduce staff exposure to illness, preserve personal protective equipment (PPE), and control patient surges in facilities. It also cuts down on operational costs and makes it easier for patients to consult doctors without waiting in lines. At the same time, doctors can continue to provide prompt preventive, chronic, and/or routine care. Remote monitoring of patients is one of the key operational management factors of telemedicine, especially for patients with cognitive issues like Alzheimer’s, Dementia, Depression, etc.
Cloud Computing
There is increasing realisation of the potential of cloud technologies, and the way it allows operational systems to be highly scalable. A key benefit to healthcare organisations is the fast implementation and upscaling across various settings to help improve the safety, quality, and efficiency of health care.
Multi-facilities data sharing in a healthcare setting is complex, especially when data is located in on-premise local servers, as these might become data silos. To improve collaborative efforts in a multi-facilities environment, a hospital can tap on the security, stability and scalability that Cloud technology offers to ensure access to data without unnecessary disruption or application downtime. Furthermore, it helps to reduce costs in the long term. Some cloud-based HIS, such as myNapier, operate on a pay-as-you-use pricing model, meaning you do not incur expenses for services you do not need.
Smart Investment for Healthcare Organisations
The pandemic has brought about massive changes to the way business is done, and has accelerated digital transformation in all sectors, including healthcare. Business leaders need to understand the importance of accelerating technology adoption in operational and information aspects, and make that important shift to the cloud to support the “new workplace”.
Napier has a robust range of fully functional base modules to support patient care in ambulatory, acute care, chronic care, emergency department (ED), and operation theatre (OT) settings. Her competitive edge lies in the ability to provide the same rich user experience across the ambulatory, ED, inpatient, nursing, and OT environments; thus enabling uninterrupted, seamless care. Napier is also leading innovation in the AI space, aiming to have all features and functionalities optimise AI in the realms of population health, surveillance, and management.
To find out how Napier Healthcare Solutions can help your organisation drive returns on IT investments, visit www.napierhealthcare.com or contact us at info@napierhealthcare.com today!
AI-enabled and Cloud-based Technology in Transforming the Healthcare IT Journey
Get in touch with us
And we’ll get back to you within 48 hours.
Sign Up for FREE Consultation!
Headquartered in Singapore, Napier Healthcare is leading provider globally for innovative, technology-enabled solutions for hospitals, long term care providers, nursing homes, health insurance and other industries with healthcare touchpoints.