Exploring the Evolving Landscape of the Healthcare Industry: What It Means for Future Job Roles

As we stand on the cusp of a new era in healthcare, the landscape is shifting beneath our feet, urging us to prepare for a future that blends technology and care in revolutionary ways. At Plus91, we're not just keeping pace with the future of healthcare—we're leading it. Let's explore the emerging trends, necessary skills, and strategies that healthcare organizations can adopt to stay ahead of the curve in this rapidly changing environment.

Emerging Trends in Healthcare

The Rise of Telehealth and Virtual Care

Telehealth has surged as a primary mode of delivering care. Our streamlined telehealth solutions have eliminated bottlenecks in patient care, transforming practices across the globe. Healthcare providers can now connect with patients virtually, offering convenience without compromising quality.

Integrating AI and Machine Learning

AI and machine learning are no longer distant possibilities; they're part of our daily operations. Our AI-Driven EMR offers robust data security and seamless interoperability, ensuring precision in patient care. These technologies are reshaping job roles, demanding new skillsets focused on analytics and data-driven decision-making.

Personalized Medicine

With advancements in genomics and biotechnology, personalized medicine is gaining traction. Our solutions enable providers to tailor treatments based on individual genetic profiles, enhancing patient outcomes. This shift requires healthcare professionals to be adept in interpreting complex genetic data.

Necessary Skills for the Future

Digital Literacy and Technological Acumen

The future demands healthcare professionals who are digitally literate and technologically savvy. Our AI-driven tools enhance operational efficiency, and familiarity with these technologies is becoming indispensable. Training programs and continuous learning must be prioritized to equip teams with the latest knowledge.

Data Analysis and Interpretation

With a deluge of data available, the ability to analyze and interpret information has become crucial. Plus91’s systems are designed to support data-driven insights, helping professionals make informed decisions. This skill not only optimizes patient care but also streamlines healthcare operations.

Interpersonal and Communication Skills

As technology takes center stage, the human touch remains irreplaceable. Trust Plus91 to transform your healthcare operations with precision and reliability, while we emphasize the importance of empathetic patient interactions. Combining soft skills with technological expertise will be key to future roles.

Strategies for Healthcare Organizations

Investing in Staff Training and Development

Continuous professional development is non-negotiable. Organizations must invest in training programs to upskill their workforce. Partner with Plus91 for secure, scalable healthcare solutions you can trust, ensuring your team is well-prepared to harness emerging technologies.

Fostering a Culture of Innovation

Innovation must be at the heart of every organization. Encourage creativity and experimentation within your teams. Experience the dynamic solutions that keep your practice ahead of the curve by adopting Plus91’s cutting-edge tools.

Building Adaptable and Resilient Systems

In a landscape marked by rapid change, resilience is essential. Utilize our HL7 integrations for seamless data exchange across systems, creating adaptable infrastructures that can withstand future challenges.

Leading the Charge in Healthcare Evolution

At Plus91, we are committed to being your dependable partner in navigating this evolving landscape. We invite you to trust us with transforming your practice using our innovative solutions. How can AI reshape your practice’s future? Join us in pioneering discussions on AI in healthcare technology at prominent forums.

Let’s embark on this journey together. 

Elevate your care with Plus91’s AI-driven patient platforms, and transform your patient care today

Enhance your staff with Digital Literacy and Health AI training programs from Plus91

Secure your networks and medical software with Plus91's cyber security plans

Together, we will drive the healthcare industry forward, ensuring that our future job roles are as dynamic and innovative as the technologies we embrace.

Best Practices for Successful IT Transformation in Hospitals

The healthcare industry, particularly hospitals, managed care groups and clinics catering to chronic illnesses are undergoing a profound transformation, thanks to the advancements in Technology including Automation Technologies and Artificial Intelligence. 

 

These technologies are not just enhancing existing treatment protocols and care processes; they're redefining the way hospitals and doctors operate, treat patients,speed up recovery and prevent health risks.

Embarking on an IT transformation journey is essential for modern healthcare institutions seeking to stay competitive and agile in a rapidly evolving digital landscape. To mitigate risks and maximize the benefits, consider these best practices, with simple examples to illustrate each point:

1. Seek Incremental Progress

Breaking down large transformation projects into smaller, manageable phases can significantly reduce complexity. For example, instead of overhauling an entire electronic health record (EHR) system at once, start by digitizing patient intake forms. This allows for early wins, creates organizational momentum, and enables continuous assessment and adjustment.

2. Ensure Strong Management

Robust program management frameworks are crucial for overseeing and guiding the transformation process. 

Imagine a hospital managing a facility-wide IT upgrade. By using a strong program management framework, they can ensure each department's needs are met, resources are efficiently allocated, and timelines are adhered to, avoiding project delays and budget overruns.

3. Redesign from scratch

Adopting a design which allows for a complete redesign of products and processes. For example, a hospital could design a new patient management system from scratch, rather than trying to patch and adapt their outdated database. This method helps organizations move away from legacy systems and create more efficient and modern solutions.

4. Create a Culture of Innovation

Fostering a culture of innovation within the organization is vital. For instance, a healthcare system could set up an innovation lab where employees can experiment with new technologies like telemedicine platforms or AI-driven diagnostic tools. This encourages continuous adaptation and integration of new technological advances.

5. Aligned Incentives for all stakeholders

Ensure that all stakeholders, including medical staff, IT departments, vendors, and integrators, have aligned incentives. A practical example would be aligning the goals of a software vendor with those of the hospital's IT department by structuring contracts based on performance and patient satisfaction metrics, ensuring both parties work towards common objectives.

6. Build internal capabilities

Invest in developing internal capabilities and forming strategic partnerships. For example, a healthcare organization could partner with a tech university to train their staff on the latest healthcare IT systems. This enhances the organization’s ability to innovate and implement new technologies effectively.

7. Technology Decoupling

Design technology architectures that minimize dependencies on specific vendors or technologies. For instance, a hospital could adopt a cloud-based solution that works with multiple providers, rather than relying on a single vendor. This approach enhances flexibility, reduces risk, and allows the organization to pivot more easily when necessary.

By adhering to these best practices and incorporating simple, relatable examples, healthcare and hospital administrators can navigate the complexities of IT transformation more effectively, ensuring they reap maximum benefits while minimizing potential pitfalls.

 

Whats right for you - an ELN or a LIMS ? Helping you choose

Digital platforms such as Electronic Lab Notebooks (ELNs) and Laboratory Information Management Systems (LIMS) have become indispensable tools for research scientists in almost all areas of research today. From sectors like Biotechnology to Water, from Criminal Forensics to Drug Development, these tools are now used by researchers and laboratory staff in Research Centers big and small. 

But what’s the difference between an ELN and a LIMS, and which one do you need?

A LIMS is a software system which manages all types of laboratory data including that of processes, instruments besides clinical data. A LIMS manages and automates workflows within the laboratory.

A good and carefully implemented LIMS can revolutionize lab operations by streamlining processes, improving workflow, and ensuring accuracy. With features like sample tracking, data analysis, and reporting.

An ELN is a digital platform that replaces traditional paper-based notebooks and generic databases to record, organize, and manage experiment data in a lab setting.

They are designed to enhance productivity and ensure data accuracy through customizable workflows and standardized methodologies. 

 

Key Similarities between an ELN and LIMS System

Both ELN's and LIMS Systems

- Are Searchable

- Support Automation

- Enable Multi user collaboration

- Support multi-system collaboration

- Help bring about Consistency in processes

- Have Audit trails and help meet regulatory requirements 

 

Key differences between an ELN and LIMS system

ELNs focus on handling the documentation of experiments. They serve a variety of purposes like creation of reusable experiment templates, supporting both free-form and structured note-taking, and generating bespoke data reports.

On the other hand, LIMS solutions are designed to eliminate errors caused by manual processes of samples. They do this by managing and automating workflows within a laboratory. They are used for monitoring the daily processes within the lab itself, including managing samples, workflows, materials, instruments and inventory. A LIMS is a complex multi user system.

A good and carefully implemented LIMS can revolutionize lab operations by streamlining processes, improving workflow, and ensuring accuracy. With features like sample tracking, data analysis, and reporting.

Core Features in a LIMS

- Test and Sample Master Management

- Test Entry and Test Report Templates

- Sample Tracking and Management

- Data Management and Analysis

- Instrument Integration and Automation

- Quality Control and Assurance

Core Features in an ELN

- Lab Notebook Templates

- Data Link and Connection Management

- Data Management and Analysis

- Multi User Collaboration

Deciding factors?

ELN software serves as a digital platform for experiment documentation, data entry, and collaboration. It streamlines data management, enables real-time collaboration, and enhances productivity by providing researchers with a digital workspace to record and share scientific findings.

LIMS software focuses on managing laboratory workflows, sample tracking, and data organization. It streamlines daily lab operations to enhance overall efficiency while supporting data integrity and compliance with industry standards

What must your Data Backup Strategy include?

Information is of critical importance to healthcare organizations. With the increase in pace of digitization in healthcare, the volume of health data is increasing exponentially. And...as with all digital data, the need to protect medical records against loss or corruption becomes even more critical.

Protecting electronic medical records and other forms of digital medical data is essential.
A robust data backup strategy can help you do just that

In todays times, Healthcare data backup and data recovery are critical components of every health IT infrastructure.

Hospitals cannot be careless about data backup. Their data is crucial for providing dependable care for patients.

Our Data Management team at Plus91 has put together this short set of pointers for you to get a gist of what a good data backup strategy should contain.

Onsite Backups:

When a server crashes or fails, it is helpful to have data backups on hand for easy restoration. Onsite backups are often faster to restore than cloud backups and almost always faster than offsite tape backups.

Offsite Backups: 

Onsite backups are valuable, but they cannot be counted on alone. Should something disastrous happen to the data center, it could also damage any backups you have in the building. For that reason, it is always wise to have copies of your backups offsite where they can be accessed manually or through the cloud. 

A Backup Schedule: 

Backups are not a one time activity. The data in your systems must be regularly and consistently backed up. For this it is effective to setup a clear defined schedule which is known by everyone within the IT team.

Backup Verification and Testing: 

Due to software and system glitches, a scheduled backup may fail sometimes. To ensure that everything is working smoothly, Backups need to be tested regularly. Also, the IT staff must be trained on how to access and restore their data backups as quickly as possible.

Organized Storage System:  

The storage repository/driver for backups must be well organized. backup files must be labelled appropriately. If the labeling system is clear and organized, the backups will be useful when needed faster. An IT  team shouldn't have to commit extra time digging through box after box of tape (or randomly labelled backup files on a drive) looking for a specific backup from a specific date several years ago.