From the November 2019 issue of HealthCare Business News magazine
Consider whether a solution can scale to support growing populations of clinical users while providing an open platform for easy integration with new applications. Devices should also have versatile features and functionality that can easily support an expanding range of current and future caregiver needs and patient care options, such as telemedicine and remote monitoring.
4. What services/support does the vendor offer to ensure success?
Adoption and ease-of-use are essential to mobile communications success. Services and deployment support are valuable contributors to effective use by clinical care teams. A smart EMM or MDM provides added layers of functionality and can also identify issues like inactive devices or higher than expected battery drain, which could indicate use of poorly designed apps.
Consider the ways the vendor will work to enhance and optimize success, from planning, design, deployment, and training, through ongoing maintenance and support. These critical services can help prevent problems that can limit user adoption or satisfaction while helping your organization realize the full value and ROI of the solution over time.
5. Is it secure?
In a world fraught with the dangers of ransomware, malware, and viruses, it goes without saying that enhanced security is critical in healthcare. It is important for a mobility solution to integrate voice and data with secure text messaging to enable clinicians to safely exchange critical information. Does it keep them in compliance with HIPAA standards even while accessing test results or consulting with a colleague about a patient’s condition? And, are any built-in security device measures included for different types of threats?
Performance, durability, security, and interoperability are all important aspects in selecting the right clinical communications system. Selecting the best, most cost-effective solution starts with assessing business goals and drivers, defining critical workflows and understanding the specific users and areas involved. Pinpointing care provider requirements will help to clarify what functionality is needed where. Also, having a clear plan of what a successful introduction should look like, along with a list of expected milestones and metrics to measure along the way, will ensure the business does not lose sight of objectives throughout the implementation process.
About the author: Bill Foster is director of healthcare business development at Spectralink, a leader in enterprise mobility solutions.
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