Due to changes in everything from new regulations to implementing new technology, Oklahoma home healthcare agencies are having to do more to meet growing demands.In today’s environment, cost-cutting and maintaining budgets are serious concerns. That is especially true for healthcare IT.IT staff would like to focus on innovation and integrating new technology but find themselves stretched thin and with too few resources.
Typically 75% or more of an IT budget, and much of IT staff time, is spent on maintenance and infrastructure, instead of focusing on ways IT can improve services and efficiency. How can Oklahoma home healthcare agencies leverage their IT department resources (or Internal Guru) effectively?
Selective Outsourcing
According to a 2014 report by MarketsandMarkets, the U.S. healthcare industry as a whole will increase IT outsourcing by 42.8% in the next five years. Your IT staff may be concerned about outsourcing their jobs to a third party vendor. However, when the workload grows beyond what even a skilled staff can handle, outsourcing lightens the workload rather than replacing IT positions.
Working with a vendor, such as Emsco Solutions, to outsource time intensive or expensive IT operations, Oklahoma home healthcare agencies can improve the production and efficiency of the IT staff and save money. For example, Emsco Solutions’ managed network services solution can take over the day-to-day maintenance with 24/7 monitoring, automating processes, installation of critical updates and security patches, and remote access to take care of most computer and network issues.
Your Internal Guru is freed to work on innovation and implementing new technology that focuses on your agency’s mission-critical issues for providing the best healthcare possible.
Another place Oklahoma home healthcare agencies can save through outsourcing is by having vendors install and maintain EMR and EHR equipment and software and make sure it is HIPAA compliant.
One additional time and money saver: rather than designing and implementing an infrastructure that will accommodate the new ICD-10 coding requirements, a home healthcare agency can outsource to a company that has trained experts to do the coding and only pay for volume.
Outsource and Save
A 2014 survey of 550 global IT executives showed that companies saved 11% of their IT budget by outsourcing. Oklahoma home healthcare agencies can do the same. Maintaining IT infrastructures and services, while cutting costs, is a looming challenge for the healthcare industry in general, but especially so for home healthcare agencies.
What and how to outsource begins with finding the right partner for selective outsourcing. Your IT needs will change over time, so you will need a vendor who can offer a wide range of services and solutions. Find that vendor, start selective outsourcing, and save money and allow your Internal Guru to be more efficient in their job.
What are some cost-effective ways you leverage your internal IT staff? Let us know your thoughts in the Comments box below.
If you own or manage an Oklahoma-based home health care agency, and you are looking to become more efficient in the use of technology, download our free guide, Information Technology Guide for Oklahoma City Home Health Care Organizations.
You must be logged in to post a comment.