How to Optimize Patients Flow Management Digitally & Its Benefits
December 17, 2020Managing patient flow physically can be dreadful. The movement of patients through Health Care facilities within closed doors and also externally, say, for example, starting from the reception to the discharge area, lacks proper check.
Good patient flow is something that goes unnoticed. However, should be a priority for any Health Care Unit trying to stabilize input and output. Issues with the patient flow are often characterized by the speed of the hospital process, clearance, efficiency of personnel, and cost.
A study conducted by The Health Foundation suggested that for 6 out of 1000 patients to receive ‘perfect care’, every task in a 100 step process has to be performed with 95% accuracy. This puts a rigorous burden on healthcare facilitators.
As such proper patient flow management may help Health Care professionals and people visiting the Health Care Unit streamline tasks effectively.
Optimize Patient Flow Digitally – Here’s What Can Be Done!
As per the latest healthcare IT trends, Hospitals can work to improve the process of patient flow through the implementation of mobile applications and system software. But how far can mobile applications deal with urgent care requirements?
Technologies improving patient flow usually consider the following factors:
- Real-time analysis
- Event-driven data
Although the task is for a broader effect, some areas experiencing slow rates of improvement can curb deficiency in emergency care.
1. Reduce Wait Time
Emergency rooms in Healthcare units across the globe experience patient flow issues regularly. Mobile applications can update the exact wait time and inform the patient of the expected wait before arriving. The up to date wait time can stream a patient’s visibility of the Health Care Unit and also make a better choice for those who provide.
2. Patient Preparation
Once a patient has scheduled an appointment at the Health Care Unit, the mobile application can take charge of informing patients what to do before, during, and after the appointment.
3. Remote Checking
Checking in a Health Care Unit is time-consuming. It may also lead to decreased patient flow. A mobile application can slow the check-in process and also the time for a patient to be seen.
Remote check-in by mobile apps may allow the staff to focus on the things that matter, instead of the paperwork and miscellaneous jobs.
Also Read: PAPER-BASED VS ELECTRONIC MEDICAL RECORDS SOFTWARE – COMPARISON
Optimizing Patient Flow
Well, digitization has its perks. The concept of using digital patient flow management is gaining popularity, especially in reducing patient waiting time and elective care. Healthcare regulatory bodies focus on the integration of primary care, social care, acute services. The need for patient flow management software is more than ever.
Although before analyzing the benefits, it is important to understand the best practices for improving patient flow.
- Patient flow should be viewed as a global phenomenon requiring system-wide attention
- Formulation of goals and parameters for tracking process
- Set up of a multidisciplinary team to operate the system software
The benefits of digital optimization include the following:
1. Online booking of appointments
Gone are the days when booking a doctor’s appointment was considered tedious. Today it’s just a click away. Fast bookings have also led to more health care. It has helped those who traveled quite a distance to book an appointment and also show up some other day.
2. Replacement of manual clipboards
Today with digital hospital software taking charge over the entry and exit of a patient, there are no manual processes involved using a pen and paper.
Patient flow software provides a faster solution and also helps monitor the real-time situation. A study conducted by Accenture reveals true testaments of patients agreeing on the importance of the digital patient management process.
3. Overcome bottlenecks
Healthcare software enables the senior staff of the Health Care Unit to identify the bottlenecks of the patient flow process.
As such patient safety can be intricately monitored and service can be made available in a short time. Long term data collection with strategic planning is an added advantage.
4. Reduce the length of stay
If reports are to be believed Healthcare software contributes to reducing the length of stay of a patient and also eliminates delayed transfer. The software’s have mechanisms of entry and notification options that help the Healthcare staff to free up from additional work and take care of what is needed.
In addition to that, patient care information can be readily provided with greater accuracy. An examination conducted by the California Healthcare Foundation stated that, for a 275-bed hospital, if the length of stay per patient can be reduced by 4 hours, it can promote the availability of 10 beds.
5. Access medical records anywhere, anytime
Electronic capabilities help patients to access records anytime. The possibility of storing, and carrying physical papers every time for a doctor’s visit, to buy medicines, or even a routine check-up can be ruled out with digital medical records.
Softclinic HMS Software delivers excellence through integrated hospital management solutions. The software systems enable pharmacy management, integration of hospital information in a single platform, lab information integration, and much more.
Their efforts in creating a digital infrastructure for the healthcare sector is aimed at streamlining departmental work, speed of delivery, real-time communication, thereby increasing the efficiency of hospital management.
Conclusion
A few implementations, as above, show that progress has been made. The importance of further improvements cannot be overlooked. Technology innovation is a must for healthcare, especially to reduce overall healthcare cost, and align patient and provider incentives.
Recommended Read: 5 Best Hospital Management Software Solutions in 2021