How inefficient communication technologies slow down providers and jeopardize patient safety

According to a new report issued by Imprivata in collaboration with the Spyglass Consulting Group, 95% of hospitals believe clinical communication is inefficient at times.

Recently, Imprivata hosted a webinar with Adam David MD and Elizabeth Ames RN from Sutter Health and Gregg Malkary, Managing Director of Spyglass Consulting Group to discuss the report findings. The report reiterates an unfortunate truth: Care settings are burdened with outdated, inefficient communications technologies and processes that not only slow down care providers, but jeopardize patient safety.  Due to these inefficient technologies, clinicians resort to personal devices and unsecure SMS text messaging to communicate with team members.

This study analyzed market opportunities that could improve existing communications tools in healthcare settings to enhance and drive value-based care. As hospitals and health systems are transitioning to patient-centered care and risk-based reimbursement models, they now have an imperative to adopt next generation tools that allow the clinician to communicate about the right patient, at the right time, to the right team member. To help achieve this, tools should also help reduce costs, improve patient outcomes, and increase satisfaction throughout the care continuum.

Sutter Health recently implemented Imprivata Cortext to allow clinicians to communicate with one another, securely and conveniently. Imprivata Cortext is a secure communications platform that replaces pagers and unsecure SMS text messaging, while improving care coordination, clinical workflows, and patient engagement. Imprivata Cortext is available across various modalities, enabling clinicians to easily respond to messages and orders in a timely manner, regardless of whether inside or outside of the hospital. In addition, Imprivata Cortext offers seamless integration with clinical data and can alert providers even when their phone is silenced.

With efficient communication technologies, time and money can be saved. Every second counts in health care settings and being able to communicate efficiently can make a huge difference in the quality of patient care.

Read more on the report here.

Download and read the report here