How to Automate Your Clinic’s Workflow
Automation has become an integral part of operations in various industries like manufacturing. However, it has not been the case in healthcare. Many hospitals are still lagging behind in inefficient practices that hinder workflow. The issue of how to improve workflows in healthcare is a big concern as it is projected that the shortage of staff will grow significantly in the coming years. For instance, according to the World Health Organization (WHO), there will be a shortage of over one million nurses by 2020. The shortage of staff together with the need to reduce cost and eliminate redundancy is increasing the need for automation of operations in the healthcare industry. Delivery of quality and high standard services is pivotal to the success of any hospital. Below are different ways to automate your clinic’s workflow.
1- Secure Messaging Channels
You can use automation to secure the communication channel in your clinic and replace the insecure and outdated channels. Communications channels are very essential in healthcare process such as facilitating admissions, requesting consultation, and obtaining lab results among others. Therefore, poor communication channels result in wastage of time and delay in patient care. However, automation of the communication helps to eliminate wastage and allow physicians to concentrate more on their patients.
2- Emergency Room Efficiency
One of the main areas in the hospital where automation is highly needed is the emergency room. This is because emergency rooms are where critical decisions are made which can have severe implications on patient’s wellbeing. Even before the patient is placed in the emergency rooms, there are specific ways automation can be used to increase workflow efficiency. For instance, first responder and Emergency Medical Services (EMS) can inform in advance the emergency room staff about incoming patients and the amount of preparation required depending on the patient’s injuries. This will help the team in the emergency room to prepare adequately before the patient arrives.
Automation of processes in the emergency room helps to eliminate delays and ensure patients in critical conditions are attended efficiently. Besides, improved workflow in the emergency rooms ensures ‘treat-and-release’ patients, who may otherwise be delayed, are served and discharged.
3- Admission Workflow
According to a 2010 study by BioMed Central (BMC), delays in admissions results in increased inpatient length and causes significant loses to the hospital. External factors beyond the admission process cause the lack of efficient admission workflow.
While some of these factors cannot be resolved entirely, automation can significantly improve admission workflow. Automation will help to monitor bed availability easily and fasten lab turnaround. Also, if one physician is unavailable, another physician can be notified, eliminating potential admission delays.
4- Laboratory Workflow
The laboratory department plays a critical role in the delivery of healthcare services. Lab results are essential in influencing over seventy per cent of medical decisions. Specimen passes a lot of steps before results are delivered.
While most hospitals have put in place measures to increase laboratory workflow, most steps are done manually. This not only increases lab turnaround but also compromises the validity of the results. Automation of the lab processes helps in correct identification of patients and improves the channel of specimen and delivery of results.
Lab results provide vital insights into the patient’s health. Automating lab processes ensures physicians take appropriate actions when the result reveals severe or urgent issues. This helps to increase workflow and potentially saving lives.
5- Pharmacy Workflow
Pharmacies can negatively influence workflow efficiency in the hospital. While most hospitals have aligned critical elements in the pharmacies to improve efficiency, the workflow is compromised by insurance and callbacks to confirm script. Automation of processes does not eliminate these issues entirely but decreases the time used to attend them. For instance, it helps the pharmacist to send orders to the physician for clarification easily.
6- Discharge Workflow
Automation helps to improve workflow in all processes in the hospital. This helps to eliminate delays that increase the patient’s stay past 72 hours. In addition, it increases productivity and delivery of services to the patient. Poor processes cause discharge orders to remain unnoticed, resulting in unnecessary delays. However, automation creates a mechanism where the discharge planners, secretaries, nurses and physicians coordinate to ensure the discharge process is quick.
