Survey turns up a ‘troubling disconnect’ between clinicians and IT pros, finds operations leaders ‘caught in the middle’
Most hospital-based clinicians, some 72%, feel they should have more say in decisions on software purchasing. This sentiment likely reflects the frustrations of the 43% who won’t say their hospital operations software helps them provide topnotch patient care.
It also may have something to do with the 60% of IT professionals and 51% of operational leaders who admit they’re reluctant to involve clinicians in software decisions.
The findings are from an online survey conducted online by the healthcare operations software supplier symplr in partnership with CHIME, the College of Healthcare Information Management Executives. The exercise drew 283 completed forms from clinicians (33%), IT professionals (29%), operations people (36%) and a few others.
In a survey report released Oct. 8, symplr offers steps provider organizations can take to select and deploy enterprise software that relieves rather than adds to burnout. The report is understandably intended to position symplr as an ideal supplier of such software, but the tips are broad enough to reward a read, regardless. Here are five.
1. Share priorities.
Discuss and align on healthcare operations software needs, the authors advise. More:
‘Leaders may find that some needed functionalities already exist through current vendor relationships and are ready for adoption.’
2. Remember: There is no ‘I’ in team.
Think big and look beyond your formal organization, symplr urges, adding it’s wise to consider your vendors as “active, integral members of your team.”
‘Identify the vendors with whom strategic partnerships are critical to your success and align your strategies accordingly. Such partnerships—whether joint ventures, alliances or vendor relationships—can provide the scale and efficiency needed for your organization to compete effectively.’
3. Involve IT.
Consult IT in technology purchases to avoid “shadow IT,” the report recommends.
‘Engage clinicians in the process by including them in demonstrations and creating forums for feedback to optimize workflows.’
4. Move beyond the basic product.
What to do if you’ve already made your buy? “To get the most out of [their] software investment, leaders need to reexamine how teams implement and ultimately use the technology,” symplr suggests.
‘Be ready for business process re-engineering in your workflows, in your organizational structures and in your care models. Involve all stakeholders in redesigning workflows to eliminate unnecessary steps and reduce time wasted.’
5. Operate differently.
“Make small changes in how you engage with the technology and people around you,” the authors write.
‘Manage the changing roles and responsibilities that new technology enables to find critical efficiencies.’
In their executive summary, the survey analysts note they identified a “troubling disconnect” across teams. They found the chasm especially wide between IT leaders and clinicians. Meanwhile operational leaders are “often caught in the middle.”
“As IT leaders focus more on cybersecurity,” the authors add, “less time is being devoted to consolidating and optimizing healthcare operations software, leading to widespread inefficiencies and wasted time across organizations.”
More:
‘Fed up, clinicians and operational leaders are taking matters into their own hands, using unvetted solutions or requesting more involvement in software purchasing decisions. Most healthcare leaders (82%) agree that streamlining operational processes, workflows and software is the best path to increase staff productivity and save staff time.’
Dave P. has worked in journalism, marketing and public relations for more than 30 years, frequently concentrating on hospitals, healthcare technology and Catholic communications. He has also specialized in fundraising communications, ghostwriting for CEOs of local, national and global charities, nonprofits and foundations.