There’s no doubt that healthcare professionals have been the heroes in this ongoing pandemic, but the rapidly changing circumstances have revealed how easily hospitals can become overwhelmed if left unprepared and understaffed. Hospitals and other health organizations should see the past year as a learning experience, and use this time to upgrade their networking infrastructure to prepare for any future needs – including common healthcare requirements, viral breakouts, or other emergencies. Here are a few ways the healthcare industry can incorporate the latest technology to dramatically improve operations in the post-pandemic world.
With COVID-19 being so contagious, exposing staff to sick patients put them at high risk of contracting the virus. Telehealth offers doctors and nurses the opportunity to review patients’ health status from a distance while also giving patients more choice in their care plans. By using cloud-managed networking, patients can connect with healthcare providers via video conferencing so they can receive the care they need from any location. Mobile and IoT devices enable patients to provide doctors with important data to make informed medical decisions. Heart rate, temperature, and vital signs can be monitored using IoT and wearable devices and remote patient monitoring systems to supply health professionals with the information they need from a distance.
The same technology used for telehealth services can also provide hospitals with automated services to improve patient care when staff are stretched dangerously thin. When hospitals reach maximum capacity with patients, doctors and nurses are forced to make difficult prioritization decisions. Automated monitoring services on an advanced cloud-driven network can provide hospital staff with live updates on patient status, so the need to physically check on patients is reduced. Vitals can be supported by monitoring equipment that can instantly notify staff on mobile devices, so they can check on patients from anywhere.
Doctors and nurses play a major role in patient care, but there are other important hospital staff available to help. Having proper administrative operations is crucial for care efficiency, and poor support can mean fewer patients get the care they need.
Incorporating a cloud-managed infrastructure for communications give hospital staff dependable methods of contact for both internal and external needs. In the event of a hospital outbreak, push notifications and mass messages can alert large scale facilities with live updates on how to stay safe. Externally, administrators can take advantage of cloud-based contact center solutions to manage call volume, which can help patients get information without relying on human support.
The world will forever be grateful to the brave men and women that provide healthcare every day to those in need. The COVID-19 pandemic shed an alarming light on how overwhelmed healthcare facilities can become during a crisis. Having the right network foundation and management capabilities to remain agile is the best preventative medicine for a catastrophe.
This blog was originally authored by Lauren Farah, Vertical Solutions Marketing Specialist.
