Factors to consider when choosing HIT solutions

A health care organization can only be as efficient as its technology. If a practice is like a human body, its central nervous system is the network of interconnected technologies that securely deliver information to key stakeholders.

When a patient needs his lab results, he gets them through a patient portal.

When a child gets vaccinated against a deadly disease, the practice sends a record to the state registry.

When a physician needs to reach a patient outside of office hours, they send a communication through a patient portal.

When the billing department sends charts to insurers, it relies on computer-assisted coding technology to ensure accuracy.

Without this information technology, practices would move too slow to keep up with the modern world, and patient care would suffer. But it’s a mistake to think that all health information technology is the same. In such a crowded marketplace, practices need tailored solutions, not cookie-cutter software.

Your entire team depends on technology to provide the best patient care.

The importance of customized solutions

Focusing on a customized experience is the first step to ensure your practice’s nervous system is sharp, fast and effective. When organizations adopt clunky, one-size-fits-all technology, they have to adapt to the new system – it should be the other way around.

The technology your organization uses every day should adapt to your unique needs and wants. The flexibility of a customized system makes it easier for administrative personnel to do their jobs well. Implementation is easier when software is intuitive, meaning staff members can get up and running with little-to-no down time.

Beyond the ability to customize your practice’s suite of technology, there are a few other aspects to take into consideration: security, mobile optimization and patient engagement.

Defining your practice’s needs

Today’s lightning-fast technology means stakeholders can access the information they need at a moment’s notice. Physicians can easily pull medical records from the cloud and patients can view their personal health history on any connected device.

All these connections also introduce more opportunities for security breaches. When navigating your choices for medical applications, you need solutions that take security very seriously.

Next on your list of priorities: mobile optimization. As smartphones and tablets become more sophisticated, their use will become more ubiquitous at health care organizations. Why tie physicians to a computer terminal when they can pull up relevant information on a device in their pocket? A strong mobile solution now should prepare your office for a more mobile-centric future.

And finally, patient engagement. Your efforts to engage patients along the continuum of care will not only improve patient health, but also the financial health of your organization. Automated patient reminder systems and communication platforms make it easy for patients to stay engaged with their personal health care.

Now that you know what to look for, contact Tangible Solutions today to learn more about how tailored technology can help your practice grow.