In our ever-expanding digital world, it’s hard to imagine a future that doesn’t depend on technology. We’ve noticed, however, that many health and social care facilities are yet to be digitally transformed. It begs the question: why not?
With other sectors moving into the digitalised space, it will almost certainly become necessary for continued reliability of services and interaction with other suppliers in the sector. Digitalising social care could significantly help tackle the social care sector’s many challenges – such as staff shortages and the discharging process.
Digital technology can help transform social care:
All staff can work more efficiently by automating and streamlining processes
Staff can collaborate with service users and patients in real time
Promotes preventative care with early intervention
The shift towards digital solutions
There is still a way to go in implementing technology seamlessly and comprehensively into the social care sector. However, there are solutions you already have access to that can make a big difference to how you operate. Using Microsoft Teams for GP and practitioner appointments could get rid of journey times and wait times – as well as reducing transportation costs if attending off site.
If there’s the chance to look at the time and financial costs of your operations, there are many accessible ways to reinvent your daily tasks. Unobtrusive wearable technology could work in collaboration with your existing technology to continually monitor patients for changes in their heart rate for example. This in turn can alert care workers so they can follow through with early intervention if needed.
Saving time and money with digital solutions
There is still a way to go in implementing technology seamlessly and comprehensively into the social care sector. However, there are solutions you already have access to that can make a big difference to how you operate. Using Microsoft Teams for GP and practitioner appointments could get rid of journey times and wait times – as well as reducing transportation costs if attending off site.
If there’s the chance to look at the time and financial costs of your operations, there are many accessible ways to reinvent your daily tasks. Unobtrusive wearable technology could work in collaboration with your existing technology to continually monitor patients for changes in their heart rate for example. This in turn can alert care workers so they can follow through with early intervention if needed.
Getting your people on board with digitalising social care
The human interaction and intervention will always be essential in the care setting. And getting staff ready for a digitalised social care sector is a major challenge. Many currently working in adult social care report a lack of confidence in using digital technology in their role. It can seem too complicated and too overwhelming at first.
Starting to solve this doesn’t have to be expensive or complex. Agencies like Inform with broad technology and people expertise can listen to your needs to find the best use of your technology to improve care. And in a way that accommodates your operational challenges while supporting your technical security and data protection responsibilities.
There is so much potential in the technology you already know and have access to. It’s just tapping into what’s already there.
