Empowering the Workforce in Integrated Care Systems

Tap-and-Go is just the beginning – Reimagine what digital health can do for the frontline

Clinicians are working as hard as they possibly can, many stretched to breaking point after the recent pandemic. With budget pressures and widespread staff shortages adding to an already challenging situation, there is even more imperative to make efficient and intelligent use of technology to improve the experience of our clinicians. There is an urgent need to make our clinicians’ lives better if we are to stem the flow of highly qualified nurses and doctors leaving the profession.

As the NHS transitions to the new, more collaborative way of working as part of the Integrated Care Systems, healthcare organisations have the opportunity to take a fresh look at how clinicians’ and allied health professionals interact with clinical systems. The adoption of digital identity technology provides many benefits to the healthcare organisation, and the biggest win by far, is to massively improve the clinicians’ experience at the point of care. Simply put, digital ID empowers the right people with access to the right information at the right time in the right place.

By focusing on putting the clinician and their patient at the very centre of all development, technology providers challenge the old assumption that you must choose between systems that are compliant, secure and protect patient privacy, and those that are easy to use, efficient and improve productivity. These ambitions are not mutually exclusive, and at Imprivata we aim to provide a platform that improves care quality, reduces cyber security risks and puts privacy first.

Enable – Digital Identity improves the Clinician’s experience

Digital identity is the control plane though which all interactions with healthcare systems can be managed and secured. When deployed correctly it provides the optimal balance between user access, security and compliance while making the everyday lives of clinicians easier and more productive.

Recent findings from KLAS research (as part of the Arch Collaborative programme) show that the quality and functionality of the EPR IT solution (for example) is only one piece of the larger puzzle in delivering digital project success and satisfaction. There are many factors when undertaking a major IT project such as the implementation of an EPR system, and it is the clinicians’ interaction with the system that dictates their user experience and therefore success. Instant access to the patient information that they need, at the point of care, without worrying about lengthy logins is priceless, and can save up to 40 minutes per shift – time that can be re-directed to patient care. This is one example of the power of digital ID, but it doesn’t end there.

As clinicians move from department to ward to clinic, their digital ID goes with them and provides access to all the different systems, in any location. When doctors assume new roles (e.g. medical student to foundation doctor and are on rotations or middle and senior grade physicians commence new positions either within or across healthcare organisations), digital ID provides day-one, role-based access to all applications that they need. Digital ID provides instant authentication at shared workstations and mobile devices such as tablet computers that are increasingly a feature of modern healthcare. Digital ID can also be used to manage medical devices such as those used for patient observations and early warning scores, mobile medicine cabinets, clinical weighing scales and much more.

Control – Reduce cyber security risk

Healthcare is under constant attack from sophisticated cyber criminals. Quite apart from the cost of ransomware attacks and the subsequent loss of reputation, patient data is a highly lucrative commodity and its compromise is extremely distressing for the people involved.

A comprehensive digital ID platform reduces cyber risk by making secure workflows second nature for staff. The platform is configured to control access to resources whether hosted on-site or in the cloud, via role-based access and multi-factor authentication. When all the clinician needs to do is tap a badge to gain access to the relevant patient data, and use the same badge for access to the carpark, or to buy their lunch, they are highly motivated to keep it safe. Shared logins, or smartcards left in readers for an entire shift for all to use, become an inefficient way of working consigned to the past.

Monitor – Ensure data privacy

Digital ID enables a full audit trail and helps to ensure good data governance. With no need for shared logins and other unsecure workarounds, the healthcare organisation has a record of exactly who provided what treatment to whom, when and where. Workstation screens are never left unlocked for unauthorised eyes to view sensitive patient information, people can access only the patient records they are permitted to see for the role they are performing at that time, and there is a time/date log for every interaction with patient information.

In short, data is shared with only those that need to see it in order to do their job. GDPR requirements are met along with the NHS Data Protection Policy. As well as protecting patients’ sensitive data, strong data governance helps organisations to avoid hefty fines for non-compliance.

Making Digital ID a reality in your organisation

Three years ago, Imprivata published its Digital Identity Framework designed to communicate the capabilities that organisations need to establish a comprehensive digital ID strategy that balances user access, cyber security and data compliance.

Imprivata is now announcing the launch of our Digital Identity Maturity Model (DIMM) which helps organisations to map current tools and processes to the five stages of digital maturity. It enables Trusts to prioritise investment to achieve a unified and comprehensive programme, not only across an organisation, but throughout an ICS.

As part of the launch Imprivata is also making available our Digital Identity Maturity Assessment (DIMA), which enables organisations to quickly assess the effectiveness of current digital ID strategy. The assessment provides customised recommendations for improving access, security and compliance.

For more information about healthcare’s only digital identity platform that simultaneously improves care quality, reduces cyber risk and puts privacy first, join us at Digital Health Rewired on 15th March at 11.30 for our session: Empowering the Workforce in Integrated Care.

Come by the Imprivata stand and try the digital identity assessment tool today.