Top Healthcare Technology and Nursing Trends for Better Patient Care
To curb the nursing shortage, enhance the well-being of nursing staff, and ultimately achieve better patient outcomes, it's essential to leverage healthcare technology advancements and stay attuned to the latest nursing trends. Presbyterian Healthcare Services in New Mexico is doing just that, and as you're about to learn, it's proving worthwhile.
In our recent Pulse Check webinar "Future Innovations in Nursing," Tim Johnsen, SVP and Chief Operating Officer at Presbyterian Healthcare Services, and Larry Adams, Chief Nurse Executive and EVP of Growth at ShiftMed, discussed transformative strategies for fostering nursing practice improvements, including:
Embracing Healthcare Technology Advancements Without Fear
During the webinar, Johnsen highlighted the rapid advancements in healthcare technology and how Presbyterian Healthcare Services embraces early adoption. "Our nursing and senior leadership teams are committed to continuously improving nursing practices through technology, always seeking to enhance both nurse well-being and patient care," he stated.
While technological innovations are exciting, health systems can become overwhelmed if they aren't prepared to manage the influx of new information. Johnsen emphasized that having the proper infrastructure, processes, and mindset has been vital to Presbyterian's success.
"It's crucial to have committees focused on technology and innovation and an overall appetite for change," he noted. "Embracing the possibility of failure is also important. If we try new technologies and they don't work out, that's okay—we learn from those experiences and move on. Failing fast, in a safe space, allows us to identify what isn't working and make necessary adjustments quickly."
Adopting Nursing Technology Trends Involving Job Flexibility
Like most states across the country, New Mexico faced a nursing shortage intensified by the pandemic. To combat the scarcity within its healthcare system, Presbyterian strategically partnered with ShiftMed in 2023.
Presbyterian Healthcare Services understands that many nurses voluntarily resign due to inflexible scheduling, poor working conditions, and inadequate staffing ratios. By collaborating with ShiftMed, developers of the top on-demand nurse staffing app, Presbyterian can fill scheduling gaps with local, credentialed nurses seeking job flexibility and work-life balance.
“We always want to make sure we have great staffing and, you know, keep our nurse-to-patient ratios the same. We've used agencies and travelers throughout the pandemic and continue to do so. But finding local nurses — that's much more appealing to us,” Johnsen said in a 2023 Albuquerque Journal article.
According to the American Hospital Association, hospitals traditionally spent a median of 4.7% of their total nurse labor expenses on contract travel nurses. However, in early 2022, this figure surged to 38.6%, with some facilities reporting that travel nursing costs accounted for over 50% of their nursing labor expenses.
During the AONL webinar "Unlock Nursing Operational Success with Flexible Staffing," Jay Sundheimer, Chief Nurse Executive at Presbyterian Rust Medical Center, discussed the staffing hurdles his 200-bed facility encountered post-pandemic and how ShiftMed helps overcome them.
"We had a heavy reliance on contract labor," Sundheimer revealed. "In 2023, contract staff inundated our emergency department, medical-surgical, and progressive care units, depleting our resources. Our objective was to activate the untapped local workforce.”
Local nurses, previously hesitant to commit to PRN positions at Rust Medical Center, can now leverage the ShiftMed app to claim shifts on their terms, enhancing the facility's ability to attract skilled, adaptable nurses seeking flexible employment.
"On-demand staffing is pivotal in fostering the workforce sustainability we require," affirmed Sundheimer. "It's astounding how adequate staffing enhances patient care in diverse settings."
Sundheimer further noted that ShiftMed's contribution has curbed Rust Medical Center's dependence on travel nurses, negating the necessity for travelers within their inpatient operations.
Leveraging Technology for Healthcare Staff Well-Being
Nurses nationwide are experiencing a surge in workplace violence. A nationwide survey conducted by National Nurses United (NNU) in 2023, the nation's largest union and professional association of registered nurses, found that eight in 10 nurses (81.6%) have experienced at least one type of workplace violence in the past year.
"Ensuring the physical safety of our nursing staff is a top priority at Presbyterian, said Johnsen. We've implemented silent duress alarms that nurses can activate if they feel threatened."
He stated the average response time by security and teammates is approximately 51 seconds. These silent alarms are geo-fenced, allowing the team to quickly identify and respond to situations where a nurse may be dealing with a patient, visitor, or someone else exhibiting escalating violent behavior.
Using AI in Healthcare to Close Care Gaps for Patients
New technologies are emerging that enhance healthcare delivery by closing care gaps and streamlining processes. For instance, Presbyterian Healthcare Services recently implemented a system that operates over the electronic health record (EHR) without human intervention.
"The system automatically identifies gaps in care, such as overdue mammograms or routine colonoscopies, and reaches out to patients via text to remind them to make appointments. In the first three months alone, this technology facilitated over 18,000 outreaches, resulting in over 2,000 positive responses from patients coming in for their appointments," said Johnsen.
He also noted the approach frees up nurses from manually reviewing charts and allows them to focus on providing direct patient care, which they enjoy the most. While cost is always a consideration, particularly in a state like New Mexico with a significant government-payer mix, the benefits of adopting such technologies can be substantial. Balancing the cost with improved efficiency and patient outcomes can make these technologies a worthwhile investment.
Future Innovations in Nursing Conclusion
Presbyterian Healthcare Services' strategic approach to leveraging healthcare technology advancements and innovative nursing practices highlights the potential for hospitals and healthcare systems to address workforce challenges, enhance nurse well-being, and achieve better patient outcomes. By prioritizing flexibility, safety, and efficiency, they set a benchmark for other institutions aiming to navigate the evolving healthcare landscape.
Check out this on-demand webinar to learn more about Presbyterian Healthcare Services' efforts to promote better patient care.