Technology in Healthcare
To say that technology has transformed healthcare is an understatement. The use of technology has not only made patient care more reliable, but it has given hospitals insight into data they didn’t have access to before with manual processes. Because of technology, healthcare organizations can be more efficient and driven than ever, but this will only happen once they leave outdated processes behind and start to adopt fresh, innovative tools.
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History of Technology within Healthcare
Because our society relies heavily on technology, it’s hard to imagine a time when electronic systems were very uncommon within hospitals. This was the reality for many healthcare organizations until the 1960s – 1970s when technological innovations started being utilized to streamline the standardization, record keeping, and EHR processes. By the 1980s, computers became more prevalent, which meant that providers and hospital staff could finally be able to take advantage of electronic systems.
With the types of software and processes that are now available to hospitals, not only can you and your staff now get accurate actionable insights from your analyzed data, but you will also be able to see how automation, flexible user infrastructures, and unique interfaces transform your revenue cycle management and patient satisfaction. With these advancements, you can finally work towards your organization’s future goals instead of having to play catch up with systems that are not up to your standards.
Four Ways Technology has Created a Better Quality of Care
Patients Now Have Easier Access to Financial Information
For patients to stay loyal to hospitals, they need to have adequate transparency and communication about the decisions they’ll be making. Before high-tech hospital software, this was rarely happening due to workflow and time mismanagement, and led to claims denials, missed payments, and low patient satisfaction for hospitals.
Now, technological advancements have bridged this gap between patients and providers. With the different software available, patients can now have more access to their bills and estimates, and even get real-time updates from their providers. In turn, providers can help patients make the right financial decisions and hospitals don’t have to continue chasing constant collections claims.
Hospitals Can See Every Discrepancy with Revenue-focused Software
Revenue cycle management (RCM) software has given hospitals more accessibility to independence than ever before. Not only has this technology eliminated the need for human labor in paperwork, but it has also streamlined even the most chaotic of revenue systems. Hospitals now have superior oversight and the control of profitability, productivity, and revenue that was difficult to maintain with manual processes.
RCM software has been able to increase revenue and eliminate errors in healthcare organizations by identifying and recording common mistakes such as underpayments, coding issues, and provider eligibility. By taking advantage of RCM software, hospitals can uncover thousands of dollars in revenue leakage each year and reinvest that money.
EHRs Serve as Quality Control
EHRs are excellent tools for healthcare organizations because they keep providers and staff accountable. EHRs alone are proof of how far technology has come within healthcare because they can sort through mountains of data and still maintain accuracy and integrity, but it’s important to remember that they don’t work on their own. For them to work, hospital providers and staff must be trained to handle and program EHR software. This means that if an EHR is not performing to its fullest extent, there is a gap within your staff that needs to be addressed.
Using an EHR’s advanced technology to maintain quality control within hospital staff is necessary. It’s a foolproof way of seeing if your employees aren’t updated on the latest information within systems or aren’t taking as meticulous of care with data as they should be. If your EHR’s technology reflects this issue, you’ll see the effects of poor revenue and patient outcomes but will then be able to know the areas to fix immediately.
Speed and Precision with Automation
Automation in hospitals is necessary because each department has time-sensitive needs. Without it, providers and staff get stretched out further than they already are and can’t take care of all issues. This leaves hospitals and patients vulnerable to severe errors that could take even more time to fix.
Because of automation, many hospitals have already been able to make major improvements within their systems with aspects like quicker billing processes, faster data retrieval, and platforms that guarantee minimal errors. By minimizing time, your staff can put their focus onto patients and new, incoming issues instead of sacrificing the quality of care.
It’s Vital to Keep Up with Healthcare Technology
There will always be the need to further simplify revenue cycle management, improve patient access to billing and health data, and make interfaces more intuitive for providers and staff. This means that technology within healthcare will continue to change and become even better than it is now.
This also means that healthcare organizations that have been resistant to change or have outdated systems must make the necessary changes now, or they will have to spend more time and money to fix errors and keep up with their competition. By starting now, you’ll be able to get back the freedom you and your staff need to achieve future goals.