The most important technology integration is people

Technology is not truly integrated until it is used successfully by people.

Enabling the Advantages of Technology Starts Early On

For patient-facing technology to be successful, it needs a lot of champions from the beginning. Of course, selecting technology that adequately balances robustness with ease of use is important. But beyond that, choose a provider who values the end game. One that recognizes your goals and helps you build teams and provides resources. An IDC survey revealed that the skill and dedication of the project team is the most impacting factor to project success.²

It is important that everyone sees the full value of the technology and that those who will need to rely on it have proper training to use it well enough to gain any efficiencies. In patient-facing technology, it is equally important that staff understand the benefit the technology can enable for their patients. Staff need to perceive championing the technology as part of enabling better care.

As an example, Dr. Jeffrey H. Millstein, recognized that by adjusting how he made his own notes, he could share them through the EHR portal and make them a valuable reminder for his patients. While he is with his patients, he validates the technology reminding them of their portal access and to look for the information he will be specifically adding for them. He explains, “…if my notes are collaborative in nature, then I can engage my patient while writing them, making the EHR less of a barrier. While there is a little extra up-front effort, my patients may be safer and better informed.”³ This demonstrates technology integrated into care—the physician expanded care by including the technology in a way that enhanced his care and he noted the value to the patient.

Continually Leverage Technology to do the Human Part of Jobs Better

Technology doesn’t care. People are still required in good healthcare. This 2017 article reminds us that it is aptly named the medical arts: “Even if a machine could determine an appropriate plan — and as we know there are few absolutes in medicine — we still want to work with a doctor, who has been trained to talk us through the options and administer the treatment protocol — and who understands that art in the science.”⁴

Studies have shown when nurses miss care opportunities, it impacts patient satisfaction. One of the frequently missed types of care—the human role of comforting and patients notice its abscence.⁵

Technology should always be in support of a patient’s care and never take the care providers away from caring. As this New York Times article states: “To the extent medical treatment relies on the human touch, on the trust of patients in their doctors and on physicians’ embodiment of authority, a computer-delivered cure may never feel complete.”⁶

People have the empathy and perspective that provides patients confidence in their care decisions. According to technology investor Jack Ma “People will always surpass machines because people possess wisdom.”⁷ Embrace technology well enough that you gain the advantages and that you retain or recover your capacity to demonstrate your human side of care.

SONIFI Health is here to simplify patient engagement technology. See how technology can support your goals when you choose the right partner.