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Challenges such as healthcare worker burnout and turnover are contributing to the estimated shortage of 10 million healthcare workers worldwide by 2030. For 83% of healthcare leaders, improving staff satisfaction is a strategic priority for automation programs. Digitalization plays a crucial role in addressing these challenges, including issues related to mental health and well-being, budget constraints, and inadequate patient care.
The COVID-19 pandemic has accelerated the process of digital transformation in different sectors, including healthcare. Digitalization has been critical in delivering healthcare to patients who were unable to leave their homes due to lockdown restrictions. As a result, telemedicine has become more widely accepted by both patients and clinicians. Now that the pandemic is subsiding, it is evident that digital transformation is here to stay. While many healthcare executives recognize the long-term benefits of digitalization, they struggle with implementation due to resource constraints. For instance, countries like the UK and Scandinavia are leveraging digitization to address margin pressures, while the US and Australia are struggling with adoption due to similar pressures.
Digitalization can help healthcare organizations overcome resource challenges in several ways. The healthcare system is currently burdened with overcapacity, making it difficult for patients to meet their care needs. Legacy infrastructures, resource strain, and regulatory procedures further complicate the issue. Even in areas where progress is being made, such as electronic health records (EHRs), interoperability remains a challenge, hindering the effective and secure transmission of patient data. Intelligent automation, which includes technologies like robotic process automation (RPA), artificial intelligence (AI), and business process management (BPM), can bridge these gaps.
Robotic process automation (RPA) can automate routine administrative tasks, freeing up healthcare professionals to focus on more complex and valuable tasks like patient care and research. RPA also minimizes errors and improves efficiencies by replacing manual processes completed by overworked and overtired healthcare workers. Artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) can analyze large amounts of healthcare data to uncover patterns and insights for informed decision-making. This can help identify high-risk patients and allow for early interventions, potentially preventing more serious health issues and saving costs. AI and ML can also be used to develop predictive models for hospital readmissions, disease progression, and patient outcomes to deliver personalized care and improve outcomes. Business process management (BPM) helps streamline and coordinate healthcare processes, reducing time and resources required for routine tasks. It identifies and eliminates bottlenecks, allowing organizations to operate more efficiently and effectively, giving healthcare professionals more time for patient care.
To optimize the digital transformation journey, healthcare organizations should start by building a business case that clearly defines the vision and its benefits. This helps convince key stakeholders that digital transformation is a worthwhile investment. The business case should consider potential procurement pathways, deployment options, define success, and propose longer-term plans. It should also address regulations, policies, license costs, projected revenue savings, and returns on investment.
Launching a successful healthcare automation program involves several key steps. The first step is to identify opportunities for automation, starting with simple, high-volume tasks that involve multiple people. Cultural adoption is crucial, and involving people early in goal and roadmap structuring fosters an automation-first culture. Understanding processes before automating them is essential, and process intelligence can help identify tasks to automate and uncover hidden steps. Executive sponsorship is vital for successful deployment, providing support, credibility, and a business-wide perspective. Establishing an ongoing operating model, including scaling plans, clear roles, needed skills, governance measures, and best practices, is essential for maintenance and scaling.
Digital transformation is an ongoing journey that requires a robust and agile infrastructure, a culture of automation, and effective leadership. By embracing digitalization and leveraging intelligent automation technologies, healthcare organizations can improve efficiency, reduce costs, and enhance patient care, ultimately addressing the resource challenges they face.
