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Originally Posted On: https://healthcareitsm.com/blog/workforce-enablement-employee-performance/
What Is Workforce Enablement?
Workforce enablement empowers your team to do their jobs more efficiently and effectively by equipping them with the tools, knowledge, and motivation to excel in their roles. Research has shown that happier employees translate to a 13% increase in productivity. This means workforce enablement is a win-win, combining happy, flourishing employees and a prosperous organization.
The Role of Technology in Healthcare
We are in an era of connected patients, digital networks, and data-rich departments that demand seamless service delivery and effective patient care. Technology plays a crucial role in this, making it necessary for healthcare organizations to adopt timely, innovative technology.
Innovations such as Electronic Medical Records (EHRs) have replaced bulky filing cabinets and worn-out documents. EHRs save patient information such as lab reports, surgeries, prescriptions, and doctor notes all online, allowing different medical professionals access when needed. EHRs also help save healthcare staff time and reduce the chance of mistakes.
Another new technology healthcare organizations are utilizing is telemedicine. This enables patients to meet with their doctor or other specialists anywhere they have an internet connection. They can write text messages or meet through video calls, reducing waiting time and improving continuity of care and relationships alike.
Health apps enable patients to access medical information from their smartphones or watches. This can help them track appointments, receive reminders, get test results back quicker, and track food intake or activity levels. These innovations can help your organization ensure patients receive timely care and improve patient outcomes and satisfaction ratings.
Technology has revolutionized healthcare for patients and will continue to do so for years to come. However, it’s important not to look past the way tech affects how the healthcare industry completes every aspect of patient care. Much like the way tech has changed the way patients experience healthcare, the way we work is changing as well.
The Nature of Work is Changing
In all industries, no matter how small or large the organization, the nature of work is changing rapidly. With the increasing number of younger people entering the workforce, norms are challenged every day. This is especially true when the latest technology enters the picture.
Due to technological progression, employees can work anytime and anywhere. Availability of remote work or hybrid work is a deciding factor for many people when offered a position in their field of choice. Another similar factor is the potential for staff to collaborate from different locations. In addition, technologies like automation and AI have allowed employees to focus more on creative or complex work instead of on routine and repetitive tasks.
Employers have been seeing a growing demand for flexible work arrangements that support work-life balance. Employees want time to collaborate with their co-workers, no matter their work arrangement. More than ever, employees value purpose and meaning in their jobs, and the continuous learning and professional development that come along with it – which often opens up the opportunity for advancement.
So, as workforce expectations shift, how do healthcare employers keep up? How can healthcare organizations begin implementing strategies to create a happier workforce? In this modern era, these objectives can be achieved through workforce enablement.
What Is Workforce Enablement?
Workforce enablement is the utilization of strategies, tools, and practices to empower employees to perform their jobs more effectively and efficiently. In healthcare, workforce enablement is about ensuring that healthcare professionals and staff have the systems and support needed to deliver high-quality care and ensure smooth operations. This can be done via these strategies:
Access to Technology and Tools
Workforce enablement through technology and tools is about utilizing tech to boost your workforce’s performance and make their jobs more straightforward.
Some options to utilize technology for employee enablement include:
- Providing reliable laptops, tablets, or smartphones.
- Offering cloud-based programs to make accessing documents and applications easier.
- Automating repetitive tasks so employees can focus more on strategic or creative work.
- Setting up cybersecurity measures to protect employees.
Support and Resources
Ensure your employees have access to support resources like IT assistance, human resources, and mental health services, both in person and remotely. This can help your employees overcome challenges in their personal and professional lives and allow them to perform more effectively. Be sure to regularly review and update these resources to address ever-changing needs and the most updated technology.
These measures and more can be achieved through healthcare IT service management (ITSM).
Training and Development
Employees want to advance in their careers and feel satisfied and accomplished in their current duties. Organizations should allow employees to have access to workshops, online courses, mentoring, and coaching so they may learn new skills and work on existing ones. This opens the door for skill development while investing that development back into the organization.
Communication and Collaboration
Effective communication and collaboration facilitate the exchange of ideas, streamline workflows, and build a supportive work environment. Employees will feel valued and more comfortable with expressing ideas about ways to help the company improve. The organization gets a double benefit: happier, more productive employees and fresh ideas for improvement.
Inclusivity and Accessibility
Creating an inclusive and accessible work environment is fundamental. This includes making sure all employees, regardless of their background or abilities, have equal access to opportunities, resources, and support.
Feedback and Improvement
Gathering employee opinions about their experiences and making improvements based on this feedback can help refine processes and enhance overall employee satisfaction and effectiveness. Additionally,
recognizing and rewarding employees for their contributions and achievements will boost morale, make them feel valued, and foster a positive work culture.
What Workforce Enablement Does My Organization Need?
Workforce enablement may look different for every organization. Determining your business’s needs involves evaluating the current work environment, utilization of present resources, and feedback from employees.
Here’s a quick step-by-step to discover how your organization can implement workforce enablement:
- First, review whether the current tools and technologies are meeting the needs of your employees.
- Consider their usability, functionality, and how they work with your other systems; is maintenance and support provided to ensure everything is up to date?
- Identify gaps in resources such as missing training materials, documentation, or equipment.
- Determine if equipment could or should be upgraded to enhance employee performance.
- Gather input from your employees, either through surveys, interviews, or focus groups; this can provide valuable information on their challenges, needs, and suggestions for improvement.
- Review performance data to identify if employees are struggling with certain aspects of their jobs.
- Make changes, then put a timeline in place for the next review and update process.
If you’re unsure where to start, discussing your concerns with Healthcare ITSM can help you develop a holistic approach and overview for your organization.
Why Is Workforce Enablement Important?
Workforce enablement is crucial for your healthcare business because it can improve productivity and increase employee retention, thereby minimizing new employee training expenses. It can also enhance patient care and safety, boost innovation within the company, and improve organizational success.
Increase in Productivity and Boosted Revenue
Employees who have the right tools and resources can work more efficiently and effectively, leading to higher productivity levels and allowing your organization to achieve its goals more quickly. This can naturally lead to an increase in revenue.
Enhances Patient Care and Safety
Effective technology allows healthcare professionals to have timely and accurate access to patient data, helping them make informed clinical decisions and deliver high-quality care. This also reduces the risk of errors related to manual data entry and miscommunication. Patient data technology allows for seamless communication between healthcare providers and their patients, resulting in better patient experiences.
Innovation and Organizational Success
In a work environment that fosters workforce enablement, staff are empowered to make independent decisions, share their new ideas, and engage in open and thoughtful communication. In a supportive atmosphere where employees can perform their best, the organization as a whole thrives. Increased efficiency, innovation, and satisfaction contribute to achieving business goals and sustaining growth.
Employee Retention
When employees feel supported and valued, they are more likely to be satisfied with their jobs. Employee turnover is costly due to recruitment, hiring, and training expenses and affects productivity and efficiency. High turnover rates can negatively impact other employees, company culture, and brand.
How Do I Apply Workforce Enablement for ITSM?
At Healthcare ITSM, we empower organizations to transform their IT departments and enable their workforce through technology. Our ITSM services go beyond traditional IT support by managing all of an organization’s information technology functions.
What is Healthcare IT Service Management?]
ITSM is a customer-focused approach to managing IT services. Prioritizing the needs and experiences of users over just the IT systems themselves, ITSM is centered on continual improvement and evolving to meet customer expectations.
In the healthcare industry, Healthcare ITSM provides specialized ITSM solutions to tailor to the unique needs of healthcare organizations. The goal is to deliver IT as a comprehensive service and extend beyond traditional hardware and software support.
Our 3-Phase Process
Our 3-phrase process begins with reviewing your current technology Standard Operating Procedures (SOP), vendors and leadership, and user concerns.
We will provide a review of your network, software, and hardware to develop a gap analysis. This will tell you the differences between how operations are currently running and how the environment could be if running under best practices.
Under our action plan, we will outline how our ITSM can promote your workforce enablement and then work to implement strategies that fit within your goals and budget.
The final phase is operational integration, where our team is then able to take over the environment.
How Healthcare ITSM Can Promote Workforce Enablement
These are some key ITSM components that could be used within a healthcare organization to promote workforce enablement:
Creating a Robust IT Infrastructure
At the very core of workforce enablement is a solid IT infrastructure. This includes reliable hardware, secure networks, and efficient software solutions that are tailored to the specific needs of your organization.
ITSM tools can automate routine IT tasks like the ticketing system and incident management, reducing employees’ manual effort while speeding up response times. This allows healthcare staff to focus more on patient care.
User Training and Support
Providing thorough training for healthcare staff on how to use IT systems is important and will be ongoing. ITSM solutions can adapt readily to changes in technology and processes. Additionally, offering well-rounded support services such as help desks and technical assistance ensures that employees can quickly resolve any issues that may arise.
Workflow Integration
ITSM solutions will be integrated seamlessly into existing workflows, meaning that systems will support rather than disrupt or change daily tasks. This can also facilitate effective collaboration among departments and minimize the risk of human error.
Data Management and Analytics
ITSM solutions provide tools for managing and analyzing data to support educated decision-making, track performance metrics, and identify areas for improvement. This will allow for seamless patient care and operational efficiency.
Security and Compliance
Healthcare organizations must follow regulations such as the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA), so they must implement strong security measures and stay updated on regulatory changes to protect people’s health data. They need to use encryption, firewalls, and intrusion detection systems to prevent patient information from unauthorized access and data breaches.
ITSM services conduct regular audits and compliance checks to align with the latest regulatory requirements.
Innovation and Scalability
Healthcare technology is always changing and innovating, so ITSM solutions should be adaptable and scalable. This means the solutions provided will grow with the organization and integrate new technologies as they become available.
Putting Workforce Enablement into PracticePrioritizing workforce enablement can significantly boost your employees’ productivity and, in turn, enhance the value and impact they provide to your customers. If you’re looking to optimize your business and create a foundation for a more productive, empowered, and happy workforce, reach out to the team at Healthcare ITSM today to learn more.
Sources:
- Moss, J. (2023, October 20). Creating a Happier Workplace Is Possible — and Worth It. Harvard Business Review. https://hbr.org/2023/10/creating-a-happier-workplace-is-possible-and-worth-it
- Wigert, B., Harter, J., & Agrawal, S. (2023, October 9). The Future of the Office Has Arrived: It’s Hybrid. Gallup.com. https://www.gallup.com/workplace/511994/future-office-arrived-hybrid.aspx
- Jacoby, G. (2022, April 29). The Changing Nature of Work. Www.ncsl.org. https://www.ncsl.org/labor-and-employment/the-changing-nature-of-work
