How to solve 3 major communication challenges with healthcare software
Experiencing communication challenges within your organisation? We take a deep dive into how support from the right care management software can resolve common challenges and improve operations for healthcare providers.
One of the greatest ongoing challenges for healthcare providers is a lack of efficient communication and data transparency between staff, support workers and clients. In such a fast-paced, highly regulated and complex working environment, providers often struggle to share information quickly and securely.
Effective communication is essential for the safety and wellbeing of participants and the overall efficiency of healthcare organisations. Providers need one source of truth that lets them access information in real-time. Adopting an integrated software solution can help providers consolidate data, make informed decisions and more meaningful connections to communicate effectively and ensure the best health outcomes for their clients.
Here are three ways technology can support providers to solve the most common challenges they face when it comes to communication.
1. From unorganised to centralised data
Many providers use multiple systems and processes with important information kept in various locations, including paper-based notes and spreadsheets. Often, organisations rely on individual workers’ knowledge but don’t house data in an accessible manner, which can be a considerable risk for organisations.
COVID-19 has highlighted the importance of adopting a centralised end-to-end digital solution. As the impact of the pandemic continues, providers have to navigate the constantly changing environment to manage the virus and its implications. For instance, if a staff member becomes a close contact or infected with COVID-19, providers need the ability to reschedule shifts in real-time and ensure their clients are still receiving quality care.
With Lumary’s care management platform, data is stored in one place, making it easier for employees and clients to view information and for providers to communicate any changes, whether a change to a plan, assessment, shift, or rate, to name a few.
Plus, with an integrated scheduling tool as part of the solution, providers can easily see who has tested COVID-positive, making it easy to manage edits to rosters to accommodate workers and clients. When agency staff are called on to fill in the gaps, they can quickly be brought up to speed thanks to a digital data repository on each participant, making communication effortless.
According to Naomi McCorkell, COO at disability and employment services provider Ability Options, “before implementing Lumary, we had information about participants, staff, and our service delivery stored in different places. Our inefficient client management systems meant that data was stored on shared drives, shared via email and even sat with individual people, which is a huge risk to the business”.
Having a secure and centralised solution like Lumary means providers can access essential information and manage their communication. Disability and aged care organisations embarking on digital transformation journeys can confidently migrate from traditional paper-based notes and spreadsheets to an integrated software solution.
With Lumary, providers can support their workforce with real-time access to everything they need to know about a client, including when information has been updated with alert notifications and feature automation.
2. Streamlining rapid and complex information
Clear communication is a critical component of effective healthcare. Yet the sheer amount of information to manage can make achieving this clarity challenging. Providers are searching for a tech partner to help them address some of the emerging challenges.
Support workers must be well informed to deliver the correct services without risk to clients or staff, but the rules and regulations are constantly changing in the healthcare sector.
At Lumary, our in-house disability and aged care specialists wade through the information from the NDIS and the community to extract the most significant changes that will impact our customers and their software. This information is available for customers via our online help desk and shared with our dedicated customer outcome managers to keep providers informed.
COVID-19 has also increased the requirements necessary to meet compliance with a constant stream of information to maintain and update. Our in-house specialists are vital to ensuring that our platform is always up to date according to the most recent NDIS changes.
With ongoing changes to COVID-19 line item rates, Lumary removes the stress of remaining compliant by automatically updating rates so providers can effortlessly manage claims and continue delivering quality services.
With an industry-specific solution that is purpose-built to manage the complexities of the NDIS, providers are empowered with the correct information to make informed decisions and have meaningful interactions. By lessening the admin burden, workers can focus their time and energy on the people in their care
3. Communicating with clients
A communications tool is perhaps one of the more overlooked parts of a digital system but is essential for building a solid relationship with clients. This tool can allow providers to manage, automate and optimise client journeys by creating two-way conversations with their customers.
As part of the Lumary solution, providers have access to an integrated communication platform. With this smart, automated communication tool, providers can remind clients of upcoming appointments and set up confirmation tracking. This ensures clear communication and no time wasted for staff driving to appointments that don’t go ahead.
A dedicated communication tool can also be used to bring customers on a journey and strengthen the relationship, such as sending them an automated welcome message or a birthday message.
With the pandemic, Lumary allows participants to update providers on their COVID-19 status and keep an open line of communication between the care recipient and their provider. As communication works both ways, it also supports providers to improve customer experience by having the ability to check up on the wellbeing of their clients, from how they are feeling to additional supports they may need.
It can also allow providers to automate the delivery of general information about vaccinations, such as communicating additional appointments for vaccinations in supported accommodation while also updating clients on plan changes.
Improving communication with technology
Fortunately, solutions exist to address these common challenges. Implementing industry-specific technology to streamline complex tasks and enabling secure data sharing in real-time are both benefits of using a digital solution to communicate. With the correct technology, healthcare providers can efficiently support communication among staff and clients to improve the standard of their services.
Learn more about how care management software can help you overcome communication challenges. Read further about Lumary CM or contact our friendly staff today!