The healthcare industry has changed in weeks, and operations have adapted to a new normal because of the global COVID-19 pandemic. An advancement that has improved the efficiency of the healthcare system is mobility technology.
With the help of mobile devices, virtual rounding and telehealth consultations and appointments are made possible without the need to be in the same location physically. This also enhances and optimizes the workflow and communication of healthcare teams.
And because of the pandemic, communication and operation challenges were highlighted and only made the industry realize the high value of mobile devices could bring to the healthcare sector.
This year alone, many healthcare facilities have digitized and adapted mobility solutions to their operations and noticed countless benefits. In this article, we’ll dig deeper into long-term healthcare mobility solutions, how to set it up, what to consider, and how to maintain it long-term. Let’s begin!
What are healthcare mobility solutions?
When you bring in healthcare mobility solutions, you marry communication and collaboration tools into a single device. And as the virus spread, healthcare facilities’ response was to integrate and invest in virtual care platforms and technological advancements.
How did they set it up? They set it up by purchasing mobile devices and tablets to enhance telehealth and virtual rounding, integrating video capabilities. This setup was beneficial as the influx of high-risk COVID-19 patients who occupied hospital beds increased, and the demand for supplies and protective equipment increased.
Besides working remotely, these mobility solutions improved the speed and accuracy of how healthcare workers provide care for patients, especially during a shift change, where there are often miscommunications.
What should we consider when starting a mobility program?
When you start a mobility program, you need to consider several things, such as the users’ safety and data. You need to identify current challenges and create effective strategies to address them.
The first thing you want to do is define the outcome and look for improvements in your system. This way, you’ll be able to find existing mobility solutions, think of ways to improve them, and invest in this strategy to fit your purpose and outcome.
You also want to consider that management and control should remain stable to provide a unified, shared, and seamless user experience. This is particularly important since many users and devices continue to rise, and technological hurdles may occur.
Lastly, replace any manual processes with automation because should a device and data get lost or stolen, IT teams can quickly remedy this solution by downloading back-up information and wiping all patient health information and sensitive data on the device.
What are the different concerns surrounding healthcare mobility solutions?
The number one priority in the healthcare industry is to keep everyone safe, and it comes with no surprise that one of the issues around mobility solutions is shared devices. To deal with this issue, facilities incorporate anti-microbial device cases, UVC cleaning, and meticulous wipe-downs after every shift.
Besides cleanliness and safety, security and device compliance is another concern, especially since you’re handling sensitive data. Mobile devices should meet HIPAA and regulatory standards to prevent cybersecurity threats and other complications, especially during the pandemic.
Facilities deal with security challenges by incorporating multi-factor authentication and device encryption and ensuring that video collaboration tools have no weak links.
Conclusion
The healthcare industry is still adapting to this technology, but so far, healthcare mobility solutions have proved to be invaluable and critical in allowing organizations to respond quickly and accurately, allowing workers to provide better healthcare services.
If there’s something that healthcare professionals can look forward to in the future, it’s the benefits facilities can get through mobility solutions and how it can improve and enhance hospital workflows in the long run.
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