How technology can impact the efficiency of a healthcare organisation

With over 35 years’ experience, and having published over 300 articles in this area, the latest Expert Series video explores Dr John Sandham’s views on how Clinical Technology Management directly impacts clinical care and the efficiency of a healthcare organisation.

Covering a range of different devices, assets and equipment, from an infusion pump to a Magnetic Resonance Images (MRI), Dr Sandham highlights that clinical technology management goes beyond tangible equipment but also includes software, as well as expertise and training. Having the right people to help strategically align clinical practice with healthcare technology enables organisations to drive greater efficiencies.  

Governance, assurance and peace of mind  

The Expert Series of videos has been created to recognise and discuss the core non-clinical challenges and solutions currently being faced across the health and care system today.  

As an Advisor to MTS Health, a leading clinical technology partner to many NHS organisations, Dr Sandham highlights some of the challenges facing healthcare organisations in delivering a compliant clinical technology strategy – including an aging workforce and the importance of user training alongside maintenance.

Procurement is at the centre of good healthcare technology management. Without the funds and expertise to manage equipment replacement planning, Dr Sandham highlights how healthcare organisations will struggle to deliver the assurance and peace of mind many leadership teams require.  

 

 

From advising new hospital programmes to operational support  

Having the right expertise and experience helps healthcare organisations to manage their equipment – including the buying and maintenance of equipment, which delivers better strategic outcomes. Having procurement and planning capabilities enables organisations to not only manage their equipment life cycles, but also equip new hospital and department programmes.  

Experts can support NHS Trusts in assessing existing performance against the regulations, which not only provides governance and control, but also helps identify where efficiencies and improvements can be made.   

With the regulations in place since 2012, Exec-level accountability for clinical technology management is essential – which is not always the case, leaving some Trusts exposed as visibility of compliance against the regulations may be lacking.  

The future of Clinical Technology Management  

Dr Sandham concludes by sharing how integration is the next phase in the development of clinical technology management. With data already being pushed into the electronic patient record, software is being used to review this information and give guidance - helping with clinical decision making.   

Software can be used to support a diagnosis or provide reassurance to help reaffirm a decision. As a result, patients can be seen sooner, are discharged or even return sooner – all leading to better clinical outcomes. Technology and the use of Artificial Intelligence will continue to evolve, potentially providing the initial conclusion based on the data, which is then reviewed and verified by a Consultant.      

Discover more about how Clinical Technology can drive organisational efficiencies and deliver improved patient outcomes.