Many of us take high quality internet connectivity for granted since our home networks and cell phones have gotten so good. However, you know how much it impacts you personally if you have ever had a time where your internet connection is not working properly. Even small hiccups are frustrating. The same is true in healthcare organizations. We take good connectivity for granted until it slows down or stops working. Unfortunately, this is becoming a common problem that is impacting providers and patients as we add more devices to the network and our connectivity infrastructure starts to age.
I recently sat down with Heather Hudnall, BSN, RN, Director of Connected Industry, Healthcare at NTT, and Heather Haugen, PhD, VP of Healthcare Practice, Digital Advisory, and Innovation at NTT, to learn what they are hearing from customers when it comes to the impact of connectivity on nurses, doctors, and patients.
Being a nurse herself, Hudnall shares some first hand perspectives of what it is like for a nurse to have to deal with a device that will not connect properly. Considering the burnout on display in healthcare today, a device that will not connect just adds to that burnout. Plus, Hudnall aptly points out that nurses are generally too busy to go and put in another ticket when a connectivity issue happens. Instead, they put the device to the side and keep on working without the proper equipment. IT often never gets word of the problem.
Haugen also shared how healthcare environments are getting more and more complex and this is contributing to the connectivity challenges many organizations face. Plus, there is no sign that we are going to see any less complexity going forward. In fact, we are going to get more connected devices layered on top of our legacy systems and IT infrastructure.
What’s the solution to these connectivity challenges? Hudnall and Haugen suggested that it starts with talking to your users. Most end users know where they are having problems if you ask them. You just have to take the time to really understand what they are experiencing so you can address it.
Next, you need to start preparing for your future connectivity needs now. Hudnall and Haugen suggested that new technology like 5G and Wifi 6 are going to be needed as more and more devices are being connected. However, these are not technologies that you turn on over night and you have to know where each technology makes sense and where it will not address your connectivity problems properly. Wifi may be required in certain areas and 5G in others. Plus, you have to make sure you have the right devices in your organization that support these new options.
The good news is that these new connectivity options are well understood and can make a difference to your end users and patients when implemented properly today. Plus, NTT offers a turnkey Private 5G solution which can help organizations move to 5G in a private and secure way that does not sacrifice speed and connectivity.
Check out the interview with NTT below to learn more about ways connectivity issues are likely impacting your organization and what can be done to improve your provider and patients’ experience. Doing so can help reduce burnout and improve patient care which leads to happier staff and patients.
If you’ll be at ViVE 2023, be sure to check out Heather Hudnall’s Tech Talk on “There’s a traffic jam on your wireless highway and NTT has your pass to the 5G express lane!!” happening Monday, March 27th @ 10:45-10:55 am CST.
Learn more about NTT: https://services.global.ntt/?/
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