{"id":20796,"date":"2020-08-26T09:00:29","date_gmt":"2020-08-26T14:00:29","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blog.planview.com\/how-prepared-is-your-it-organization-to-support-the-rise-in-e-health\/"},"modified":"2020-08-26T09:00:29","modified_gmt":"2020-08-26T14:00:29","slug":"how-prepared-is-your-it-organization-to-support-the-rise-in-e-health","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blog.planview.com\/how-prepared-is-your-it-organization-to-support-the-rise-in-e-health\/","title":{"rendered":"How Prepared is your IT Organization to Support the Rise in eHealth?"},"content":{"rendered":"
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From electronic medical records (EMR) to tools for diagnosis, treatment and management, global healthcare has been adopting digital technologies to improve day-to-day operations and patient care for many years. Unsurprisingly the COVID-19 pandemic has intensified digital demands on hospitals and other medical institutions as they adapt to remote patient care. In this digital-first climate, <\/span>software and IT systems can make a significant difference<\/span><\/a> as organizations across most industries become increasingly virtual enterprises.<\/p>\n

While not new, software-driven platforms—such as telehealth (or telemedicine), e-consultations and e-subscriptions—are witnessing a <\/span>surge in adoption in recent months<\/span><\/a>. Whereas before in the U.S. telehealth was not incentivized and <\/span>doctors would not get paid the same for an in-office visit<\/span><\/a>, that has changed in response to recent events. <\/span>Healthcare organizations now need to take stronger, more direct strides to become a software delivery organization as the pandemic evolves. Systems and capabilities will be required to not only continue support for e-health interactions but also for logistics and deployment for vaccines and daily tests, as well as assisting programs for general health not related to the global virus. <\/span><\/p>\n

Digital Innovation is Here to Stay  <\/strong><\/h3>\n

While a return to safe physical interaction in the future may seem desirable for first-class treatment and support, some of the most impactful digital innovations will become permanent fixtures. “I think we’ll use the best digital bits to improve the patient experience where possible,” explains Karen Byrne, an Advanced Nurse Practitioner for the National Health Service (NHS) in the UK. “E-prescribing has already replaced traditional paper prescriptions. Video consultancy brings flexibility for patients who can’t visit a medical facility for whatever reason — be it their job, childcare or they’re too sick to travel. Ultimately, I think it’ll be about balancing technology with physical interaction to ensure a cross-channel approach that puts everyone’s health and safety first but allows the patient choice in how they are consulted.”<\/span><\/p>\n

In light of this development, it’s crucial that the software that underpins <\/span>those physician-patient interactions <\/span>is up to the task of meeting that demand, both today and for any inevitable future global health crises. Experts warn that due to the human impact on the environment, another pandemic is a <\/span>“probability, not a possibility.”<\/span><\/a> IT organizations must be empowered to make swift changes to adapt. From our work at Tasktop, we’ve seen first-hand that the healthcare organizations<\/a> with real-time visibility into the performance and stability of their digital products and services portfolio—and, crucially, visibility into the IT teams that build and support that portfolio—are in a stronger position to shift gears quickly. <\/span><\/p>\n

Supercharge Response <\/strong><\/h3>\n

Technological and non-technological leadership across these organizations are having to work closer than ever before to be able to prioritize resources to accelerate response where it matters most. Like a doctor assessing a high-risk patient, they need the right information at the right time to be able to quickly and accurately assess the vital signs of their digital operations<\/a><\/span> <\/span>to effectively respond before it’s too late. <\/span>They need specific live data into their software delivery that enables them to answer questions like:<\/span><\/p>\n