With the COVID-19 pandemic in mind, the digital transformation of healthcare is progressing quickly and will drastically change the manner in which care is provided. This change is long-lasting; after the pandemic, more virtual care options and technological advancements are expected to be available. Despite these developments, staffing shortages and the potential for burnout remain major problems for healthcare systems across the globe. A startling 92% of National Health Services (NHS) Trusts in the UK voice worries about employee burnout, stress, and well-being.
Improving patient outcomes and decreasing clinician stress require providing exact, comprehensive information to caregivers at the time of care. Many healthcare organizations currently lack the necessary tools to communicate and use this information effectively, even though the widespread use of digital assets like electronic patient records (EPRs) and modern imaging technology lays the foundation for this transition. To genuinely empower doctors at the point of treatment, investing in state-of-the-art digital technologies requires a corresponding investment in larger, high-resolution screens.
Variations in Healthcare’s Digital Maturity
Globally, healthcare institutions differ greatly in their level of digital maturity. Several hospitals have effectively completed their digital transformation, incorporating cutting-edge technologies into their daily operations with ease. Many others, on the other hand, still struggle with disjointed information systems and rely on a combination of antiquated paper records and charts.
Clinicians are forced to traverse excessively long distances to and from workstations and wait for an open station before entering data due to outdated documentation procedures. Studies reveal that a nurse spends over 25% of their time moving around the hospital floor. These inefficiencies raise the possibility of errors, such as ordering the wrong tests or entering the wrong information, and can also cause delays in patient care.
The Difficulty of Determining EPR Value
Detailed patient data, like as imaging and test results, workflow, and evidence to support patient care decisions are all integrated into modern EPRs. The point of care experience could be completely changed by these systems. But how well clinicians interpret and apply the data will determine how effective they are.
The usefulness of EPRs raises important problems:
- Do clinicians need to browse a lot or is the information clear and concise on a single screen?
- Is the resolution of the screen good enough to read images?
- Does the screen size make it easier for coworkers to collaborate or for patients to communicate with you?
Clinicians are already under a great deal of strain, and inadequate technology at the point of care can add to their stress levels. Tablets, for example, usually provide a screen size that is too small for the extensive data found in EPRs. They also present questions about infection management, need to be charged frequently, and are prone to dropping. Similarly, laptop screens are frequently too small or too low quality to properly utilize the data that is accessible, especially during rounds when several doctors must simultaneously evaluate notes, images, and records. The efficacy of extensive organizational investments in digital projects is diminished by these constraints.
Improving Healthcare Delivery through Improved Technology
Many healthcare companies are increasingly investing in larger, high-resolution screens installed on powered medical carts to address the issues with laptops and tablets’ limited size, resolution, and battery life. The point-of-care experience is greatly improved by this method for both doctors and patients by:
- Facilitating quicker information access and decreasing the need for constant scrolling.
- Facilitating clinicians’ ability to follow crucial workflow procedures with greater ease.
- Encouraging more productive ward-round interactions, especially when multidisciplinary healthcare teams need to evaluate information together.
- Providing ergonomically built, height-adjustable carts that medical professionals with different physical needs can utilize with comfort.
Having access to a bigger screen encourages patients to take an active role in their care. Larger screens allow for more collaborative discussions regarding the patient’s condition and treatment plan than laptops, which might put a physical barrier between the patient and the therapist. To enhance comfort and improve the patient-clinician connection, this cooperative approach supports the Triangle of Care by maintaining the proper distance between the patient, the physician, and technology.
Driving Positive Change in Healthcare
In the healthcare industry, there is more demand than ever to address caregiver fatigue and enhance patient outcomes. Healthcare businesses need to carefully examine the appropriate point-of-care solutions and screen sizes to fully realize the benefits of digital data and improve the working environment for clinicians daily. Purchasing larger, higher-resolution displays helps physicians carry out their tasks more successfully and efficiently in addition to providing precise and high-quality patient care.
Setting the Standard for Point of Care Desk Solutions: AFC Industries
Investing in cutting-edge point-of-care technology has many advantages, including bettering patient outcomes and lowering stress and burnout among clinicians. It is crucial to have the appropriate instruments at the point of care as healthcare continues to change. AFC Industries is the top producer of Point of Care Desks in the US among the many companies that offer these indispensable instruments.
Recognized for its dedication to quality and innovation, AFC Industries provides a broad array of ergonomic solutions tailored to the particular requirements of healthcare settings. Our Point of Care Desks are built to last and are precisely created to enable physicians to efficiently access and use vital patient information. Healthcare firms may improve patient care and clinician well-being by selecting AFC Industries to assist their staff with top-notch equipment and advance their digital transformation initiatives.
Modern Point of Care Desks from AFC Industries may transform your healthcare facility and improve patient outcomes and clinician satisfaction.