Advanced I.T. solutions are critical for organizations in virtually every industry. Technology is constantly evolving, and it is imperative for firms to keep pace with these upgrades. Those that do so will be better able to meet client demands and desires, and will consequently thrive in their given sectors.
Vertical markets include government agencies, nonprofits and, crucially, healthcare providers. For organizations in all of these fields, I.T. is essential for achieving stability and maintaining clients’ trust.
As Ken Congdon, Healthcare Technology Online’s editor in chief, recently highlighted, many small healthcare providers, which include community hospitals, specialty practices and long-term care facilities, seem to understand this need and are consequently taking steps to improve their I.T. capabilities. To fully maximize the value and benefits to be gained from their I.T. systems, though, it may be necessary for such organizations to pursue local outsourced I.T. services.
IT and community hospitals
Congdon noted that small healthcare providers are embracing a range of I.T. solutions, including electronic health record (EHR) solutions. Largely in order to comply with Meaningful Use standards, these organizations have begun to heavily invest in EHR technology. However, as Congdon pointed out, compliance is not the only motivator for this trend.
“[T]here is also an increasing realization among community hospitals that technology will be a fundamental component to their long-term sustainability,” he wrote.
Congdon went on to point out that nationwide healthcare reforms require healthcare providers of all sizes to improve their coordination and efficiency. EHRs can play a crucial role in this regard, as can the use of mobile solutions.
“Small to midsize hospitals are also seeking to adopt the latest mobile technologies in an effort to make their clinicians more productive, while enhancing patient care,” Congdon explained.
As they strive to pursue these high-level improvements, though, it is very possible for more mundane I.T. requirements, including administrative items like password changes and the addition of new users, to be overlooked. Additionally, major upgrades can put serious stress on healthcare providers’ infrastructure.
In both cases, managed I.T. services providers may be the answer. These organizations can oversee all of the I.T. minutia while simultaneously ensuring that the healthcare providers’ infrastructure is optimized to handle all of its technological demands.
Improving trust
It is important to note that in addition to productivity and efficiency enhancements, there is another key reason why small healthcare providers should embrace I.T. solutions: to gain and maintain patients’ trust.
By regularly improving the quality of the technological tools it uses, a community hospital can not only provide better patient outcomes, but also demonstrate its dedication to providing the best service possible. With these solutions in place and the trust they earn, smaller facilities may also be better able to avoid being absorbed by larger, corporate-controlled medical groups.
To this end, small healthcare providers should consider working with local outsourced I.T. companies that can help them make the most of available technological resources.
