By Scott Hondros

Technology’s pervasive role in daily life has led healthcare consumers to expect their patient journey to be enhanced digitally. A recent study by the Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society (HIMSS) found that 84% of healthcare decision-makers report that patients demand a “more personalized, holistic digital experience,” and 75% agree their organizations are embracing a digital-first culture. This study identified several trends driving digital health transformations, most notably the rise of consumerism and clinician burnout. Digital technologies not only improve the patient experience but also alleviate clinician burden and reduce workloads.

Healthcare leaders are increasingly interested in digital tools that refine an organization’s key operations, processes, and services. Aiming to ease staff workload, improve outcomes, and enhance overall safety, Real-Time Location Systems (RTLS) continue to exceed these expectations. By equipping healthcare organizations with location technology, leaders can effectively evaluate data from every “nook” within a facility to ensure operational efficiency. RTLS’ IoT-enabled asset tags and staff badges provide enterprise visibility into the maze of corridors within healthcare buildings, bolstering support for healthcare providers, meeting rising patient expectations, and improving facilities’ bottom lines.

Add efficiency with workflow and asset management
Physicians across various ages and specialties increasingly acknowledge digital health tools' potential to enhance care quality and satisfaction. Over the past six years, the implementation of these tools has seen growing physician support, with 93% of surveyed physicians recognizing the benefits realized between 2016 and 2022. Key drivers of interest include improved clinical outcomes, work efficiency, and reduced stress and burnout. Organizations can work toward these improvements by adopting solutions that streamline and automate non-clinical processes and workflows.

Patient care delays and clinical workflow bottlenecks often arise from manual data entry, dealing with siloed systems, and searching for necessary staff and equipment. IoT-enabled location sensors alleviate the administrative burden on clinicians by automating the non-clinical aspects of workflow, ensuring uninterrupted, real-time updates. In the absence of advanced location technology, 63% of healthcare workers reported spending over an hour per shift seeking necessary data or devices. Automating these tasks with RTLS cloud-based solutions permits clinicians more time to devote to patient care and to operate at the top of their licenses. With built-in patient flow reports, organizations can monitor crucial metrics such as patient volume, length of stay, room utilization, patient wait times at each clinical milestone, and time spent with the provider. This eliminates the need for providers to inquire about patient whereabouts or wait for manual status updates, allowing for more efficient daily workflow management and enhanced patient care.

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