The people are what makes the healthcare system. From employees on the frontlines, to healthcare specialists, to the patients, the people are at the heart of the industry and should not be forgotten. This seems like an obvious statement, but sometimes healthcare executives and leaders get caught up in the numbers and implementing new technology, and end up putting the people and their well-being on the back burner.
Technology is great and should be used to help streamline processes in the bustling industry, but perhaps there should be a limit to how much healthcare leaders should invest in this. Studies show that the United States healthcare industry as a whole will spend more than $148 billion on IT products and services this year. This number shows that technology is a major priority for healthcare organizations, and that they are willing to spend this much because they feel there is great return on investment. But what if the industry uses a little bit of that money to invest more in knowledgeable employees?
Focusing on knowledge workers might make a bigger difference than technology will. Think about it. Investing in skilled, intelligent employees will help advance the healthcare industry on a more personal level. Healthcare means taking care of people in their most vulnerable times, and technology can’t do that. Clinicians and doctors who know what they are doing, can help heal people physically and emotionally. Patients need people who will meet them with care and compassion, and only humans have the ability to deliver on that.
“The healthcare industry sometimes falls victim to new advances in technology, and that’s great, but it’s time to invest in people over profits. People are the backbone of the industry and health executives need to realize how vital knowledge workers are to internal and external operations,” says DoorSpace CEO Sarah M. Worthy.
Not only does investing in knowledge workers help patients heal, but it establishes a sense of trust, when technology oftentimes produces doubt. How many times have you been extra cautious when using new technology or nowadays, AI? Chances are you’ve been a little hesitant to fully give into the technological era we live in now. Focusing on employees that represent the positive values of the company, and truly care about their patients’ well-being will help people believe in the healthcare system as a whole.
One of the biggest challenges the healthcare industry faces is a negative public perception. For example, survey results show that 80% of Americans are concerned about whether or not they can receive quality access to care. Half of those respondents gave American healthcare an F grade. These statistics show that the healthcare system needs to realign their priorities to work for the people. Technology is not going to establish a higher sense of trust, it’s only going to diminish it. Prioritizing values and educated employees is the key to tackling this issue, and giving Americans more faith in the system that is supposed to care for them.
“This will require a large investment in leadership training and new tools that support knowledge workers. Healthcare executives cannot lead our healthcare system into the future using 1950s-era management practices. The journey to transforming the US healthcare system begins with redesigning it so it works for the people working within it,” says Worthy.
Putting the people first in the healthcare system will only come with a bunch of positives. When healthcare organizations show both their employees and patients that they care, it will help the whole entire system advance and run smoothly. Technology can only do the things it is programmed for. It cannot relate to people and help them physically and mentally heal. Technology is there as a resource, but perhaps there is too much money invested, when the real technology is the knowledgeable people who work on the frontlines. Technology cannot replace the human connection, so now is the time to remember that the people truly matter.
