In Healthcare, Fewer Devices Means Better Collaboration and Outcomes

In the fast-paced world of healthcare, effective communication is critical. Whether a doctor is caring for a patient suffering from a heart attack or a caregiver is helping a resident who has fallen, healthcare organizations need to be able to collaborate seamlessly to ensure the highest quality of care is delivered; however, outdated communication systems can often create bottlenecks and hinder collaboration. With all the challenges healthcare workers face today, communicating with colleagues and patients shouldn’t be one of them.

Yet, staff still rely on outdated equipment that doesn’t meet the unique challenges of today’s healthcare environment and collaboration needs. With strict privacy laws, caregivers who need to share patient information must also have tools that ensure data is kept private. Medical teams need the ability to send group messages to expedite care and simplify clinical collaboration.

Imagine a scenario where a caregiver notices a change in a resident’s behavior. They must communicate this to the nurse, who must then consult with the doctor. With a traditional system, this might involve multiple phone calls, text messages, and emails. By the time everyone is on the same page, valuable time may have been lost.

Many medical staff carry multiple devices. For instance, staff physicians could carry two mobile phones—one for work and one for personal use—and in some organizations, they’re also likely to tote multiple pagers so colleagues in different units and offices can quickly contact them. A unified healthcare communications solution can reduce the need for healthcare professionals to carry multiple devices. Through Mitel’s Common Communication’s Framework, we look at ways unified communications solutions can enable medical teams to collaborate faster and more efficiently in a secure and compliant environment.

Read: How AI And Unified Communications Will Transform Healthcare>

Advantages Of Simplified Healthcare Collaboration

Single Device, Multiple Channels, and Easy Collaboration

A distinct advantage of a secure hybrid cloud communications system is that collaboration via multiple channels is possible from a single device. Whether healthcare professionals are sitting at a desktop, working on a laptop or tablet, or checking their mobile, they can access a secure, personal dashboard via the web.

Quick Communication, File Sharing, and Improved Care Coordination

Within this environment, they can securely discuss cases with staff, patients, residents, or family members using voice, email, chat, SMS, and video conferencing. They can also share files with colleagues and access patient and resident records. Once stored in separate areas of the organization, information is accessible from one central location. Seamlessly sharing information between colleagues provides opportunities to collaborate on care plans and ensure those involved work with the same data.

Healthcare communication is much more streamlined with capabilities such as presence. MiCollab, Mitel’s collaboration software platform, allows caregivers to see which colleagues are available at a glance and contact them using multiple methods.

Hunt And Ring Groups for Contact Assurance

Further, physicians and staff can create hunt and ring groups to ensure no call goes unanswered and colleagues can reach each other easily. For example, in a ring group, all phone numbers, extensions, or physical telephones ring simultaneously when a call comes in. Any member in that ring group can answer, making this an efficient way to reach specific areas or locations. By contrast, hunt groups route incoming calls to a group of users until someone answers. This feature is handy for on-call physicians, who can change their status directly from their dashboards.

How does it work? Let’s say a doctor who has been gone for the day returns. She switches her status on her dashboard from “Absent” to “Present.” Her mobile then becomes her primary calling device. The doctor also retains her unique phone number, enabling external callers to contact her directly.

Stay Connected Anywhere with Telehealth

As technology options for the aging population increase, the demand for alternative methods of communication with caregivers grows. Telehealth solutions allow doctors and other staff to communicate with residents and patients, even when physically absent. In addition to connecting with staff, telehealth capabilities provide the means for those residents and patients who don’t have the technological knowledge to connect with family members through video-scheduled calls set up by staff.

Single Point of Access Means Better Collaboration

Another benefit of a single point of access for communications is that it's less to carry. You can access multiple ring groups and hunt groups from one device, replacing all your devices and pagers.

Healthcare organizations are under incredible pressure to serve patients and deliver an optimal care experience. MiCollab helps healthcare professionals communicate easily, efficiently, and quickly with each other.

We often think that the technology we provide has no bearing on the more critical outcomes of staff and patients, but it does. The right communications solution can help save lives. Whether you’re looking for a communications solution for your elder care facility or an emergency response solution, Mitel’s flexible solutions utilize robust integrations and a lineup of DECT phones to provide the mobility, security, and privacy required to easily collaborate and share information in real-time, assisting you in improving the health outcomes of your patients and residents.