As the world comes to terms with the COVID-19 pandemic and countries begin to lift their lockdowns, healthcare will continue to be at the forefront of the forward movement. With pressures for the healthcare industry to advance to the new needs of the world’s patients, new approaches are emerging for integrating medical practice technology in a post-pandemic world.
The healthcare industry is finding new popularity in online platforms due to social distancing requirements. This momentum will continue in the post-pandemic society as fears remain and distance becomes a comfort for those fears. As brick and mortar office visits decrease and telehealth consultations and treatments rise, practice technology too must adapt.
Like the world that is changing in both thought and habit due to COVID-19, the healthcare industry will, too, in order to keep up with the growing need and demand. The medical sector is seeing and will continue to see an influx of technological devices and AI applications. Now is the time to start integrating the new medical practice technologies for a future that will demand them.
With the deployment of a plethora of products to enhance medical capabilities, new data points are providing opportunities that would never have been imagined in years past. It is increasingly apparent that these advancements and changes will form a new era of healthcare – one in which technology and telehealth will become the norm, and office visits will progressively move to virtual platforms.
Technology Integration Requires Set Standards
Integrating these new technologies into your already existing practice will require learning new techniques and developing an understanding of how the old fits with the new. Here are some of the ways these new medical practice technologies will fit into the changing industry:
1) New responsibilities for practice staff. These new technologies will require a set structure of responsibility. Who will be monitoring the use of these new technologies, and how will they fit into your original workflow? Workforce analysis is necessary for this integration. Practices must make sure that there is adequate support to maintain the level of expertise essential to move forward.
2) Personalization/customization of the technology for the individual practice. This will be vital to making the integration process as smooth as possible. After all, just because something works in one place does not mean it will work in all situations. Finding the right technology for specific clinical needs is just as important as knowing how to use it. New platforms and integrated solutions that allow for information flow from one office to all others will be vital for most clinics. However, there will be advancements that work for surgical offices that may not work for family practices. Each specialty will need to find its own balance.
3) Higher levels of security. As new forms of data gathering and information retrieval become essential, so too does the need for higher levels of security and confidentiality. This means implementing new protocols and procedures for data processing and linking.
Putting It Into Practice
Integrating medical practice technology into the existing world of healthcare requires a different mindset to that which many are accustomed. Finding success is a matter of understanding the new norm and reaching out for help with the intricacies of implementation. Healthcare professionals will see many changes in the months and years to come, as will the world in general.
Finding the right partner to help make these changes will be the key to success, and Medical Advantage has helped thousands of medical practices across the country with our expertise in technology, practice workflow, quality care optimization, and a track record of success for over two decades.
