Every industry is slowly transitioning to digital ways of operating and communication. Technology has a major impact on not only the IT field but also other fields like manufacturing, healthcare, finance, education sector, etc. With the COVID-19 pandemic, every industry is operating remotely and the demand for technology is more than ever. No matter which industry you are from, if you are not adopting yourself to technology, you are lagging far behind.
With technologies like Electronic Health Records and data-reliant tools, tech helps healthcare professionals to make critical decisions, especially in time-sensitive situations. It also speeds up many of the processes by automating tedious manual tasks. Although there are so many benefits from tech, still there are many people who are skeptical about getting familiar with it.
Most people who come from non-technical backgrounds are scared when they hear about the word “Technology” as it is completely unknown territory for them. However, you don’t need to be a pro at technology, all you need to do is know the basics which helps you to be better at your job. But, apart from an individual’s interest, there are several factors why technology is not embraced well. Lack of tech training, poor process compliance, and awareness are a few of the factors. Now, let’s dive into these challenges that hinder technology adoption in the healthcare industry.
1)Few digital risks:
Technology makes things easy and streamlines many business processes but there is some downside to it as well. For instance, the healthcare industry operating model is very intricate as it comprises a network of patients and partners, regulatory requirements and insurance reimbursement models, etc. Because they are involved with any third parties, they are always vulnerable to take bold decisions. With growing cyberattacks, there is always a concern for security standards.
The other risk is the dynamic workforce risk. The healthcare workforce is also equipped with lots of gadgets and devices to treat the patients remotely because of the pandemic, but it can expose due to faulty workforce authentication and authorization. Sometimes it gets hard to track the activities of your workforce.
Data privacy risk is also a huge factor in adapting to technology. The patient’s data is collected in different methods and that data can be breached if no one takes the responsibility to keep them in check. To counter all these digital risks, you need a sophisticated tool. It should provide an integrated approach where all these concerns are taken care of.
2)Inefficient training:
With rapid technological advancements, there is a consistent need for training and development. By the time you train your employees on a particular technology, a new one pops up and needs you to start everything all over again. This makes it difficult for both the organization and the employees to be on par with the technology. Most of the training courses are focused on the process rather than teaching how to use the technology.
To counter this problem, you can make use of learning management systems like Healthstream Learning Center which helps to deliver the training more efficiently. It helps the employees to complete the tasks very innovatively and makes the learning fun and engaging. The employees can retain the knowledge easily and use the tool to its maximum potential that’s needed for their job.
3)Stringent compliance regulations:
Just like any other industry, healthcare industries should also adhere to compliance laws and regulations. But in healthcare industries, the compliance laws are a bit stringent. When they adopt new technology, there is a high chance that all these laws may hinder the technology adoption process. This is one of the reasons why many healthcare industries are reluctant to adapt to technology. The other issue is data integrity.
To counter these issues, you can make use of data validation tools that warn the employees when they enter the data in an incorrect format. With these tools, you can track the progress of your users and create goals for your employees as well.
Conclusion:
There are a few downsides to technology just like any other new advancements. Not everything is designed for every industry. Find out ways to combat the issues that your organization is facing and use the technology in the best way possible.
Also Read: 7 Steps of Create a Successful Healthcare Mobile Application
