Digital tools can significantly benefit hospital operations and clinician workflows. However, to be successful, leaders must know which tools to integrate.
During a session at Becker's 5th Annual Health IT + Revenue Cycle Conference, Oct. 9-12, panelists gathered to discuss the pros and cons of digital technology. The panel featured:
- Andrew Rosenberg, MD, CIO at Michigan Medicine.
- Lisa Stump, senior vice president and CIO at Yale New Haven Health System.
Here are four takeaways:
1. Consumers don't want to talk to support staff on the phone. Hospitals should look to implement bots and other artificial intelligence to communicate with patients. The goal should be to reduce human calls to the IT service desk by 75 percent.
2. Artificial intelligence and computers will not replace skilled and talented clinicians. Rather these digital tools will compliment physicians.
3. The number of clicks and boxes that need to be checked by clinicians in an EHR needs to dramatically change. Hospitals should look to adopt models that keep clinicians' eyes away from the screen and on the patient.
4. Healthcare has "shiny object syndrome." There are so many tools out in the healthcare landscape. However, healthcare leaders first must identify the problems they have. From there, they should find digital solutions that will best help overcome that problem.