Topics:
- Lack of interoperability impacts patient care
- Migrating to modern cloud bases systems
- Why healthcare UX is poor
- Technological obstacles in implementing technologies
The biggest challenges in healthcare technology!
There are many challenges facing healthcare professionals day today. Let’s dive deep into some of the technological setbacks in the sector. So, what are the biggest challenges in healthcare technology?
Brace yourselves to face the challenges that hinder seamlessness in healthcare at this point. The world prepares itself to overcome the post-COVID phase. Our healthcare system must be flexible, agile, and extremely responsive to an unforeseen crisis.
Of course, the new technologies can only help in terms of taking the most critical decisions. The good news is we have EMR. The bad news is we still have some challenges despite this advanced technology. This applies on several levels including interoperability, migration, and difficulty of usage.
Lack of interoperability impacts patient care
One of the answers to what are the biggest challenges in healthcare technology is interoperability. It’s a word that gets thrown around a lot in the healthcare sector but what does it really mean? Let’s define it first, interoperability is the exchange of information within the healthcare systems.
As healthcare professionals, we expect technologies to transfer patient information to other systems. That means EMRs should communicate with each other and doctors’ offices should provide patient documents to hospitals in real-time or vice versa. We can’t hide the benefits of interoperability. But the challenges remain more subtle. Therefore and without further ado, here are the challenges standing in the way of interoperability:
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The challenges standing in the way of interoperability
1- Managing inconsistent data among multiple sources: this happens when healthcare IT departments attend to big networks. The problem of inconsistent data inside the networks comes from providers placing various data pieces in different places. This can be scanned documents, paper charts, closed-off EMRs, or hospital EMRs.
2- Validating electronic requests for patient data: it is more than important to maintain patient health records privately. This draws the problem of when to process electronic requests for patient data. Sadly, most providers rely on the approval of their electronic system to share patient data. This often slows down workflows and delays appointments.
3- Overcoming the structural resistance to data sharing: some healthcare industry systems don’t like sharing information with other providers or systems. This goes back to competition between healthcare systems in contradiction with the law. This is the fundamental issue for interoperability.
4- Hiring experts to manage interoperability is costly: this applies especially to small organizations.
5- The requirement of keeping information readily available: the Cures Act reports data blockers every day and fines them. Moreover, you must always update your systems to fit new requirements.
Migrating to modern cloud bases systems
Migrating to modern cloud-based systems is a big challenge to healthcare systems. Healthcare systems accelerated cloud adoption due to the pandemic. Thus leaving the organizations at a bigger risk of cyber threats. Namely, some challenges arise when moving to cloud-based environments:
1- Shortages in skills: statistically, a big number of skill gaps come as a barrier to this migration. Learning new platforms or processes takes time!
2- Everyday operations: maintaining and setting policies, misconfigurations, vulnerability, and patching management. These are other obstacles to protecting cloud-based workloads.
3- Heavy costs: a lot spend high capital on paying for contracted services and expenses for migrating to the cloud. Other payments related to training and operational costs with migrations
4- Security authority: cloud migration is not a simple task. Not everyone is confident they can secure their contribution to the Shared Responsibility Model.
Why healthcare UX is poor
Do even designers ask Why healthcare UX is poor? One more answer to what are the biggest challenges in healthcare technology. Typically, healthcare user interfaces appear cluttered and outdated. Leading to overwhelming and confusing user experiences. Unfortunately, software in healthcare is not only old, but they also lack efficiency. Remember that the healthcare industry faces many challenges to achieving user-friendly platforms. Here’s why:
1- Lack of information architecture: Many EMRs lack information architecture and continue adding information and features without checking in with physicians to determine whether this is important.
2- Bulk of information: so much important data is shuffled in healthcare systems. Design is often a second thought, and they focus mostly on function.
3- Lack of physician-focused experiences: Physicians need systems to work for them, not the other way around. There is a lack of consideration to the day-to-day workflow for physicians. Often, EMRs aim to please healthcare administrators.
4 – Compliance and accessibility: healthcare services and products have to be compliant and web-accessible. This creates design challenges. For example, sight-impaired users should be capable of using the website or app.
Technological obstacles in implementing technologies
Some Technological obstacles in implementing technologies include serious digital risk. The complexity of the dominating healthcare delivery model needs layers, networks, delivery models, etc. This exposes the industry to cyberattacks, data privacy, dynamic workforce risks, and others. Poor onboarding and training is another technological obstacle. Finally, strict data integrity and compliance regulations stand also in the way.
To sum it up, many challenges exist in technology implementation, especially on various levels. Accordingly, your choice must aim toward the best solutions for your environment. Start by asking, what are you looking for?
To start your search, don’t refrain from contacting our Ambula healthcare team: (818) 308-4108! And now check out What must a healthcare worker do to achieve patient satisfaction?
