It’s critically important for health care professionals to get the best possible value from their technology which is why selecting innovative technology that saves time, reduces costs, and boosts efficiency have become critical factors, writes HUGH DAVIES of Epson.
Health care professionals in private and public health care have access to a vast array of technology products that support patient care, many of which can boost efficiency, streamline productivity, assist with the business of medicine, and importantly, help make more time to spend with patients.
When it comes to providing the best possible care in hospitals and other health care facilities, there’s simply no substitute for patience, time and thoroughness. This is true in hospital wards, pharmacies, waiting and administration environments, diagnostic meetings and training sessions, which are all environments that place high demands on time and resources.
It’s critically important for health care professionals to get the best possible value from their technology – we know that cost pressures are as much a reality as time is of the essence in the health care industry. Choosing innovative technology that saves time, reduces costs, and boosts efficiency have become critical factors for any business, and at Epson, we give you the power to keep costs under control and keep a focus on high quality care.
Ways to work the ward
Clear identification of files, laboratory samples and other patient collateral is vital to the integrity of a healthy ward environment. Writing outpatient details on every item attached to their care is a wasteful use of a health care professional’s time – and it makes patients vulnerable to risks exposed by human error. It’s much easier, more efficient and safer to print out the needed amount of long lasting labels within the ward environment.
Fast printing in pharmacies and medical rooms
Pharmacists can avoid lengthy queues by printing labels for medication quickly and accurately, while prints include colour coding to reinforce alerts and warnings for patients. Similarly, patient files in medical waiting rooms can be easily labelled and colour coded to minimize waiting time. Practices that invest in a high speed scanner can capture paper-based records into an electronic database, reducing paper costs, storage space, and time taken to file and retrieve paper-based documentation.
Getting test and scan results out, quickly
Other allied professionals can use technology to their advantage too. For example, the team at Dr de Villiers and Partners, a privately owned radiology practice at Johannesburg’s Netcare Garden City Clinic, replaced its expensive and time-consuming conventional system of producing X-ray films with digital radiography. X-ray results can be produced digitally, with images and reports being written to a CD.
Away with waiting room woes
Medical professionals can add value to patients’ waiting time by displaying useful information related to healthcare, using space-saving, ultra-short-throw projectors. These same projectors could be used for training and review meetings within hospitals or academic environments, making effective use of small spaces to boost health care providers’ knowledge and experience.
We know that every second counts when it comes to managing medical environments – just as much as every cent counts. There are many cost-effective solutions that boost efficiency just by changing one or two elements of the working day, and the results that can be achieved by doing this are truly remarkable.
* Hugh Davies, Business Development Manager, Epson South Africa
