Electronic Health Reporter

By Matthew Rice, territory account manager (healthcare), Panasonic Connect.

Imagine this: you’re a home healthcare worker treating a patient when your laptop battery dies. You lose precious time waiting for the device to charge, pushing back your entire schedule for the day. When the laptop finally boots up again, the Wi-Fi connection is spotty which further hinders your productivity and potentially delays administering medication to patients. Further, in the event that your device encountered a drop or spill, it may render the device unusable and you may have to wait for a new device to be assigned to you by your IT department.

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts that home health jobs will grow 33 percent between 2020 to 2030. Technology must advance alongside this growth to keep pace with the market. Hospitals or healthcare providers work within tight budgetary restraints, but with the continuation of digital healthcare, the right tools are a critical requirement. Devices need to keep up with a home healthcare worker’s day. They need to be durable, reliable, and flexible, lasting for years in challenging environments while able to keep up with digital transformation demands.

Multi-Use Devices for Shifting Patient Needs

Devices that don’t have the ability to withstand drops, spills or temperature changes would only increase stress and frustration in an already challenging job. And, when working in healthcare, sanitation is key. Devices must be able to be sanitized from patient-to-patient, shift after shift. Therefore, a device that can be sanitized and withstand the harsh usage and environmental effects is imperative.

Durability ensures that the device can withstand the tough environments inside and outside of facilities, while modularity means a single device can do more, ultimately reducing operational cost and time needed to maintain multiple devices. When IT purchases new devices for home healthcare staff, technicians must consider how and where devices will be used. For example, a health network may purchase devices for all staff with authentication set-up through smartcard readers.

Later on, if they decide to change their user authentication to fingerprint, they can buy this component separately and have it installed instead of buying new devices for everyone. Personalization also boosts productivity and allows providers to see more patients. A home healthcare worker might program certain keys or buttons to create shortcuts to access commonly used tools.

For example, simply clicking a button to launch a computer-aided dispatch (CAD) can improve response times and speed up how long it takes to deliver patient care. A patient’s care team can use mobile devices to communicate frequently, share data and monitor vitals. This means that patients are treated faster, home healthcare workers can deliver more efficient care and hospitals can improve productivity.

A New Era of Connected Healthcare

Doctors can also keep an eye on their patient’s vitals during visits. By servicing a patient in their home using a mobile device, as opposed to being in an office and using a desktop computer. They can also take notes on a tablet while facing the patient, instead of having to turn to a desktop computer, keeping critical focus and touchpoints with the patient.

This also streamlines home care workflows and allows for uninterrupted communication between patient and provider. This is a critical element of the patient experience, and this connectivity and access to data from remote locations supports improved patient outcomes. The same goes for being able to securely access EHR records, or patient notes. For patients who might be seen less-frequently by home healthcare professionals, or who might frequent another provider in their network, reliable access to vital information make all the difference.

Practitioners serving patients in their homes can provide the same, if not similar, quality of care as the patient would receive in the office or health center – with the right device. Tablets and handhelds featuring technology such as embedded cameras for data capture, barcode scanners for medication administration and touchscreens with pens to capture patient signatures in real-time, ensure that the quality of care doesn’t change between a medical facility or home. This also allows for compliance with patient records, keeping them accurate and up to date. This real time accessibility eliminates potential errors.

The Future of Home Healthcare

Healthcare systems must deploy devices that deliver a stellar return on investment and enable effective monitoring and reporting to usher in a new era of home healthcare. Improved patient and healthcare provider experiences depend on it.

Home healthcare worker flexibility and patient comfort define the healthcare industry of tomorrow, starting today. So, when making the case for new technology to empower the home health care experiences, make sure it’s durable, configurable and connected.