Five key technology challenges to address in 2019

Technology in healthcare is in a state of flux. It is evolving, changing, and growing, encouraging providers and clinicians to adapt along with it. A number of emerging challenges can often make this transition more complicated than it needs to be, and can leave healthcare organizations struggling to balance security and convenience.

In a recent webinar, we discussed the major challenges that providers and clinicians face in 2019. Here’s a quick recap:

Physician burnout

With physician burnout on the rise, it’s becoming increasingly clear that clinicians are exhausted from being overworked. They spend valuable minutes battling technology on virtual desktops, mobile devices, and clinical SaaS applications typing in usernames and passwords, loading various apps, and more. This time would be far better spent attending to patient needs. Satisfactory care and convenience doesn’t need to be compromised for the sake of security and access to data.

EPCS compliance

Hospitals and providers also face the challenge of meeting government regulations regarding health IT solutions. For example, the deadline to comply with state EPCS regulations is fast-approaching, with compliance mandated by January 2021. There are strict guidelines to be followed, and even though balancing security with system usability is important, compliance remains critical.

Security risks

At the end of the day, protected health information (PHI) is at the heart of the digital healthcare transition. Security is a necessity, as studies show an 11% increase in detected incidents, most of which are related to weak credentials. The stakes are high when it comes to PHI, because once the damage is done, it becomes very difficult to reclaim all the lost data. Strong passwords work, but they waste a lot of time – up to a full hour a day, which contributes to 78% physician burnout.

Oftentimes, adding more and more layers of security only makes systems more vulnerable to cyberattacks. One solution is to have a single provider across all platforms to control security and access, while allowing for seamless integration and uninterrupted clinical workflow.

Virtualization

As mentioned above, adding more layers of security can create barriers to operability, rather than actually protecting PHI. Identity access management (IAM) platforms are a way to balance security with stability and convenience, as the technology ensures that the appropriate individuals have access to the appropriate data.

One way that IAM overcomes the question of security is with the use of two-factor authentication. Imprivata Confirm ID is an example of this: a centralized platform that enables clinicians to establish their identity with Hands Free Authentication or with the use of push token notifications. The solution encourages trust between clinician, patient, and technology while making security invisible.

Single sign-on (SSO) capabilities also play a big role in managing efficiency in healthcare organizations and hospitals. The ability to access multiple apps seamlessly – with the mere tap of a badge – secures workflow efficiency from every endpoint. This allows for the use of shared workstations, as individual physicians are able to access their personal data securely no matter where they are in the hospital.

Mobility

Clinicians should be able to access 85 - 90% of their data at all times in order to increase productivity and visibility. The benefits of this are reduced login times and increased protection for patient data. This ideal is further encouraged with consistent authentication, meaning that physicians can access their network remotely on various devices by using a VPN.

The benefits of these solutions are hard to debate. CHRISTUS Health conducted a study across 19 of their facilities, finding that the implementation of SSO solutions saved 934 hours per week for physicians, and a total of $3,330,601 in cost-savings. At the end of the day, it all boils down to ensuring workflow efficiency without compromising security or convenience.

Find out more about how Imprivata helps healthcare organizations address these five technology challenges by balancing security and convenience.