Short-Staffed Hospitals Can Ease the Burden on Nurses with Better Device Management.
There’s no question the vital role healthcare and aged care workers played in combating the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic – and technology was essential in helping them do it. The rapid adoption of digital tech like tablets on an unprecedented scale allowed nurses and practitioners to provide care quickly, minimizing health risks while maximizing responsiveness.
While the World Health Organisation recently declared that the end of the pandemic is in sight, the healthcare sector is now facing another challenge: healthcare and nursing home facilities are struggling with widespread staffing shortages as burnout and turnover accelerate. With the digital transformation of healthcare, careful attention should be paid to optimizing shared device management to continue to meet care standards while easing the burden on an already stressed workforce.
Digital Technology in Healthcare
The use of digital technology in the health sector isn’t new, but the COVID-19 pandemic pushed it to new heights. As patient numbers surged in hospitals and healthcare facilities, portable tech quickly became an essential part of care. Tablets replaced clipboards and connected patients to their families, while management apps tracked crucial health data.
Healthcare services in Victoria, Australia which rapidly pivoted to using virtual care tools, saw positive increases in efficiency and patient experience according to one study, while in New South Wales, the Ministry of Health bought thousands of iPads to monitor patients remotely.
As facilities now look to refine their digital strategies for the post-pandemic age, they also have to contend with healthcare workers around the world experiencing a “pandemic-fueled burnout” severely impacting an ongoing skills shortage. The nursing workforce in the United States is projected to face a shortage of up to 10-20% or 200k-450k by 2025, putting the future of delivering quality healthcare at risk.
A Better Way to Manage Devices in Hospitals, Clinics and Nursing Homes
One way to ease the burden is to streamline the charging and deployment of portable tablets. Compatible with iPads and tablets, LocknCharge Charging Stations for healthcare are designed for fast-paced and shift worker environments.
LocknCharge’s Putnam Charging Stations can charge, store, and secure iPad and Tablet devices. They come pre-wired with neatly-organized cables, allowing for easy device retrieval. Streamlining workflow reduces friction during shift rotations and the integrated combination lock gives the entire staffing team access to devices. Placed at nursing stations and check-in desks, the charging stations are ideal for shared devices that need to be charged and accessible at all times.
As technology continues to be critical to modern care, ensuring its ease of use in fatigued and short-staffed medical settings is essential to the future well-being of both staff and patients.