Health Systems Facing Application Mayhem: The Interoperability Challenges at Hospitals

In today's digital age, health systems are inundated with an overwhelming amount of healthcare software and technology platforms that are critical for managing patient care and employee retention. However, this excess of healthcare software leads to major interoperability challenges, ultimately impacting patient outcomes and staff satisfaction. 

 The good news is that solutions like ShiftMedare emerging, providing a way to streamline and simplify hospital management processes while improving interoperability. According to HealthIT.gov’s recent State of Interoperability Report, hospitals in major US cities have higher rates of interoperability compared to the rest of the country, exposing a gap for more rural communities' healthcare organizations. This article will explore the challenges of application mayhem at hospitals and demonstrate how interoperability can save lives. 

The Interoperability Challenge: Too Many Technology Platforms at Hospitals 

Interoperability refers to the ability of different technology platforms and software applications to communicate and exchange data with each other seamlessly. In the context of healthcare, interoperability is essential for sharing patient data and ensuring continuity of care. It can also enable the ability to access and manage internal and external float pools to ensure optimal staffing levels. However, in many hospitals, the sheer number of technology platforms and healthcare software systems in use can create serious interoperability challenges. 

Having multiple technology platforms at hospitals can lead to a number of challenges. For example, when different systems cannot effectively communicate with one another, clinicians must manually transfer data between systems, which can be time-consuming and error-prone. Furthermore, when clinicians are required to use multiple software systems, it can lead to confusion and cognitive overload, potentially impacting the quality of patient care and outcomes. 

The negative impact of interoperability challenges extends beyond patient care and outcomes. It can also affect employee retention. Clinicians who are forced to use multiple systems and applications may become frustrated and overwhelmed, leading to burnout and increased turnover rates. In addition, when healthcare software systems are not interoperable, it can make it difficult for clinicians to access the information they need to do their jobs effectively, leading to decreased job satisfaction. 

It is essential for hospitals to find solutions that streamline and simplify their technology platforms while improving interoperability to mitigate these challenges. 

The Risks to Patient Care 

The widespread use of multiple technology platforms and healthcare software systems in hospitals can negatively affect patient care and outcomes. One significant challenge is the potential for confusion and errors when clinicians must navigate and use multiple systems simultaneously. 

For example, clinicians may have to use different systems to access electronic health records (EHRs), medication administration records, lab results, and imaging studies. Each system may have different workflows and interfaces, leading to confusion and a higher potential for errors. These errors can lead to poor patient outcomes and harm patients, compromising patient safety. 

Poor patient outcomes can have significant implications for healthcare organizations, including increased liability risks, reputational damage, and financial penalties. In a 2018 survey by SAP, 52% of U.S. health system executives and finance leaders said that data sharing is the technology that will have the biggest positive impact on the patient experience. Poor outcomes can also impact employee retention, as clinicians may become frustrated and overwhelmed by the demands of navigating multiple technology platforms and software systems.  

The Risks to Employee Retention 

The use of multiple technology platforms in hospitals can negatively impact employee retention. Clinicians who are required to navigate multiple systems can become frustrated, overwhelmed, and experience burnout, ultimately leading to high turnover rates. According to a 2022 KLAS whitepaper, long-term staffing shortages and clinician burnout caused by poor interoperability are the leading pain points among provider organizations. 

Clinicians may feel like they spend more time navigating technology platforms than providing patient care. This can lead to feelings of dissatisfaction and a sense of disconnect from their work, ultimately leading to burnout. When clinicians experience burnout, they are more likely to leave their positions, leading to high turnover rates. 

High turnover rates can have significant implications for healthcare organizations. The cost of hiring and training new employees to replace those who have left due to technology platform burnout can be significant. In addition to the financial cost of recruitment and training, there is also a cost in terms of lost productivity and the impact on patient care and outcomes. 

According to the 2022 NSI National Health Care Retention & RN Staffing Report, hospitals have experienced high turnover rates since 2016, with an average of 83% of RN staff and 90% of the overall workforce being turned over. This results in a significant cost of between $28,400 and $51,700 for a bedside RN, causing hospitals to lose millions yearly. 

High turnover rates can also lead to decreased morale, decreased productivity, and a decrease in the quality of patient care. It can also negatively impact the healthcare organization's reputation, making it more difficult to attract and retain top talent. 

ShiftMed: The Solution to Health Systems Facing Application Mayhem 

ShiftMed offers a solution to the challenge of multiple technology platforms and healthcare software systems. It is a user-friendly platform that allows healthcare organizations to manage their internal labor pools and access an on-demand marketplace of over 350,000 credentialed nurses, simplifying the process of managing staffing requirements and ensuring optimal staffing levels. 

ShiftMed's Internal Resource Management technology centralizes staff data and open shifts and supercharges it with predictive analytics, business intelligence, and more. From AI gap shift analysis to staff retention strategies to true cost management, ShiftMed's IRM technology helps healthcare organizations manage their resources cost-effectively while retaining their staff. 

ShiftMed seamlessly integrates with scheduling systems like UKG and Smartlinx to streamline and synchronize staff data and open shifts. This means that healthcare organizations can manage their staff and shifts through a user-friendly platform that simplifies the process. By simplifying and streamlining healthcare software systems, clinicians can focus more on patient care, improving outcomes and greater patient satisfaction. 

Eliminate Interoperability Challenges With ShiftMed 

The interoperability challenges faced by hospitals due to multiple technology platforms and healthcare software systems have significant implications for patient care and outcomes, employee retention, and healthcare organizations' financial health. It is essential to address these challenges and prioritize solutions like ShiftMed, which streamlines and simplifies healthcare software systems, reduces the risk of burnout and turnover among staff, and improves patient care and outcomes. 

By implementing a system like ShiftMed, healthcare organizations can rebalance their labor portfolio, reduce costs, and increase retention rates, leading to greater overall success and better patient care.