Addressing Clinical Staffing Shortages in Healthcare: The Crucial Role of IT Investment

The following is a guest article by Doug McDonald, Director of Technology in the Office of the CTO at Extreme Networks

In healthcare, clinical staffing shortages can significantly impact the quality of patient care and the overall efficiency of healthcare organizations. With an aging population and a rising demand for healthcare services, it is an increasing challenge for healthcare organizations to attract and retain enough qualified clinical staff. Further, the cost of clinical staffing can significantly impact healthcare organizations’ budgets, which can limit their ability to invest in other areas.

However, investing in IT solutions can help healthcare organizations address some of the challenges of clinical staffing shortages. By prioritizing network infrastructure and adopting more connected technology, healthcare organizations can optimize clinical workflows, reduce administrative burdens and enhance communication and collaboration among clinical staff. Here are some of the ways that IT investment can help address clinical staffing shortages:

Increasing Clinical Productivity with Advanced Healthcare Applications and AI

Advanced healthcare applications such as Electronic Health Records (EHRs), telemedicine, and remote patient monitoring can help healthcare organizations optimize clinical workflows and reduce the administrative burden on clinical staff. By automating routine tasks such as appointment scheduling, billing, and documentation, clinical staff can spend more time focusing on patient care. Telemedicine and remote patient monitoring can also help healthcare organizations extend their reach and provide care to patients in remote areas. 

Another emerging technology in healthcare is artificial intelligence (AI). AI tools can help healthcare organizations analyze large amounts of data and identify patterns that inform clinical decision-making. By leveraging ML/AI, healthcare organizations can provide personalized patient care, reduce the risk of medical errors, and optimize clinical outcomes. For example, machine learning algorithms can help healthcare organizations identify patients at high risk of developing chronic conditions such as diabetes or heart disease, allowing for early intervention and preventative care.

All these applications rely on strong network connectivity and Wi-Fi to function. And, with new generations of Wi-Fi like Wi-Fi 6E, healthcare organizations can dramatically increase their network bandwidth. This enables them to continue to utilize new technology, provide dedicated connections for critical medical devices, and deliver best-in-class patient care. 

Protecting Data Through Stronger Cybersecurity and Network Resilience 

With the increasing use of technology in healthcare, cybersecurity has become a critical concern. In 2022, the healthcare industry rose to the second most attacked industry in the United States and third most attacked globally. Cyberattacks compromise patient data and disrupt clinical workflows, putting patient care at risk. By investing in comprehensive cybersecurity solutions that include applications, infrastructure, and training, healthcare organizations can protect patient data and ensure the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of critical systems.  

But cybersecurity solutions aren’t an all-encompassing solution for data protection. The underlying network infrastructure is equally important. A robust and secure network infrastructure can support the seamless flow of patient data, reduce the risk of network downtime, ensure the secure and reliable transmission of patient data, and support the delivery of high-quality patient care. The network isn’t just plumbing – it’s a strategic asset to the organization, the connective tissue that connects all technologies together.

Increase IT Support with Managed Services 

For those healthcare organizations with small or inexperienced IT staff, it may be best to consider working with a partner that provides managed services. This enables organizations to reduce IT costs and increase efficiency by giving them access to the expertise and resources necessary to manage complex technology environments, without hiring or training additional staff. This can also help healthcare organizations speed up projects like network infrastructure upgrades, which will in turn help them adopt the additional technology solutions necessary to overcome staffing shortages on the clinician side.

Technology Investment is Not a Panacea

While IT investment helps healthcare organizations address the challenges posed by clinical staffing shortages, it is important to note that a comprehensive approach is necessary. Technology can help organizations increase operational efficiencies and determine an optimal headcount for teams. By adopting a comprehensive approach that includes both IT investment and staffing strategies, healthcare organizations can improve clinical workflows and ultimately lighten workloads for staff.

About Doug McDonald

Doug McDonald, Director of Technology in the Office of the CTO at Extreme Networks, is tasked to mold future Extreme product direction to differentiate and drive growth in the healthcare vertical. He holds an Executive MBA in healthcare leadership and has recently achieved fellow status with the HIMSS organization.

   

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