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Unlocking Solutions: How Health IT is Bridging the Gap in Home Health Care Amidst Staff Shortages

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Home health care has become an increasingly vital part of our healthcare system, allowing patients to receive necessary medical attention and support in the comfort of their own homes. With an aging population and rising healthcare costs, home healthcare has seen a surge in demand. However, a persistent challenge continues to hinder the efficiency and effectiveness of this sector – staff shortages.

More than 75% of individuals aged 50 and above in America express a desire to remain in their homes as they age. However, a recent study published in Health Affairs, highlights the declining availability of the essential home-based workforce needed to fulfill this demand. The shortage of staff in home healthcare has profound consequences, impacting both the quality of patient care and placing significant strain on healthcare workers. These consequences are wide-ranging and demand our focused attention.

A study led by LDI Senior Fellow Hummy Song discovered that over 30% of full-time registered nurses and around 25% of licensed practical nurses left their positions at a large home health care agency within a year. This high turnover is mainly due to volatile scheduling. To match supply and demand in real-time, it is not uncommon for home health staff to find out their schedules the night before their shift. Another study found that experiencing just 30 days of high schedule variability in a year increases the odds of a nurse quitting by 20%.

Addressing staff shortages in home health care necessitates a multifaceted strategy. Firstly, increased funding is crucial to enhance recruitment and retention efforts. Competitive salaries, comprehensive benefits packages, and opportunities for career development and advancement are all factors that can attract more healthcare professionals to the field of home healthcare.  (Home Health Care Workforce Not Keeping Up with Community Needs, Nancy Sherman).  However, implementing institutional and federal policy changes often entails lengthy approval processes. This is where Health IT companies step in, partnering to expedite impactful solutions.

On February 28th, Interlace Health is hosting a webinar with Strata Health and Telos Health Solutions: ‘The Evolution of Home Health: Technology Innovations Enhancing Home-Based Care’.  You can learn more & register for the event here.

  • Strata Health helps hospitals and skilled nursing facilities find available Home Healthcare Resources that match the patients’ needs. Many patients who rely on home health services have complex medical conditions that require specialized and continuous care.  Not all patients are alike, for example patients that have recovered from a stroke.  Not all Home Healthcare providers can deal with Post-Stroke Care.  Strata ensures that patients are not only matched up based on availability but also based on applicable services.
  • Telos Health Solutions enables Home Healthcare agencies the ability to maximize their interactions with patients through less but more impactful on-site visits.  The lack of available staff hampers home healthcare patients from receiving the timely and comprehensive care they need. Long waiting lists and delayed visits can result in deteriorating health conditions and increased hospitalizations, defeating the purpose of home health care altogether.  Telos’ innovative telehealth platform enables clinicians the ability to have more touchpoints with patients, virtually, and more frequently between their on-site home visits.  Actionable patient-reported updates, and aggregated reports of those patient insights help identify and solve potential systemic care challenges

Moreover, staff shortages often lead to an increased workload for existing home health workers. With fewer hands available to provide care, the burden falls on those who remain. This can result in burnout, exhaustion, and decreased job satisfaction for healthcare workers. Long working hours, increased stress levels, and limited time spent with each patient can compromise the quality of care being delivered. It is essential to recognize that the well-being of both patients and staff is interconnected, and one cannot be prioritized at the expense of the other.  Interlace Health is reducing the time nurses spend onboarding patients and ongoing consenting, affording nurses more time to make more visits.

In conclusion, the repercussions of staff shortages in home health care extend to patient care, healthcare workers, and accessibility to healthcare services. While we anticipate the implementation of institutional and policy mandates, healthcare IT is actively collaborating to alleviate some of these challenges.

 

About the Author:

Kristin Shores is a results-driven Strategic Partner Executive with a proven track record of cultivating and nurturing high-value partnerships that drive business growth and innovation. With over a decade of experience in the field, Kristin’s expertise lies at the intersection of relationship-building, strategic planning, and business development. As a strategic thinker, Kristin leverages her comprehensive knowledge of market trends and emerging technologies to craft innovative partnership strategies that position her organizations at the forefront of their respective industries. Her ability to adapt to evolving market landscapes and pivot with agility has been instrumental in delivering sustainable growth.  Connect with Kristin on LinkedIn. 

 

Contact Kristin to learn more about Interlace Health’s Partnership Program: kshores@interlacehealth.com

 

 

Join our Feb. 28th Webinar – The Evolution of Home Health: Technology Innovations Enhancing Home-Based Care

Register for the Webinar

 

 

The Crucial Role of Internal Alignment in Successful Technology Partnerships

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As cliché as this may sound, in today’s rapidly evolving digital landscape, technology partnerships are not just beneficial; they are essential for businesses seeking to stay competitive and innovative.   It is the fusion of expertise and resources from different entities that helps spark and drive technological advancements, many of which end up redefining market standards and user experiences.

However, the linchpin for the success of any technology partnership lies in the often-overlooked factor of internal alignment.  More often than not companies fail to recognize the importance of ensuring congruence within an organization before embarking on external collaborations.

 

Why Internal Alignment Matters

When considering a technology partnership, it is imperative that an organization has a clear and unified vision.   As Alex Larralde stated, “The key to organizational alignment is uniting the workforce behind a shared vision” (How to Achieve Organizational Alignment).

Without a concerted direction, partnerships are at risk of becoming disjointed endeavors that dissipate energy and resources, rather than concentrating them toward a common goal. Internal alignment sets the foundation for partnership success in several keyways:

Strategic Cohesion: To make strategic decisions, it’s essential that all internal stakeholders understand and agree upon the desired outcomes especially when it comes to the purpose of a desired partnership.   Ensuring organizational alignment is the first step in successful execution of any strategic initiative.

 

“Best of intentions, but incapable: Companies that score highly on the purpose and strategy alignment scale, but low on the strategy and organization scale, are more or less incapable of implementing their strategy as intended” (Trevor & Varcoe, HBR Strategy Execution:  A Simple Way to Test Your Company’s Strategic Alignment)

 

  • Optimized Resource Allocation: By having departmental goals and resources aligned internally, organizations can efficiently allocate what is necessary for the partnership without redundancy or conflict, ensuring that all participating teams are contributing effectively.
  • Unified Communication: A consistent message across all levels of the organization not only strengthens the internal resolve but also sends a coherent signal to potential and existing partners. Unified communication prevents misunderstandings and aligns expectations, smoothing the flow of the partnership.
  • Cultural Synergy: The alignment extends beyond strategies and communication; it encompasses company culture as well. When an organization’s culture is primed for collaboration and open innovation, it is more likely to foster a positive and productive relationship with its technology partners.  A perfect example of successful cultural alignment would be the partnership between Nike and Apple.  “Both companies share a focus on innovation, design, and performance which resulted in the successful collaboration of Nike+iPod,” (Strategic Partnerships:  The Power of Synergy: Scaling Business through Strategic Partnerships).

 

The Underpinnings of Internal Alignment

Creating internal alignment is not an instinctive process; it requires deliberate actions:

  • Establish a cross-functional steering committee to oversee partnership initiatives and ensure that various departments are in sync.
  • Clearly define the roles and responsibilities within the organization for managing and nurturing the partnership, eliminating the silos that often hinder collaborative efforts.
  • Develop a set of shared objectives and key performance indicators that resonate with various departments and stakeholders.
  • Engage in regular, open discussions within the organization to maintain alignment and adjust to new insights or market changes.

A technology partnership can be a powerful catalyst for growth, but the prerequisite is having an organization internally aligned and prepared to harness the full potential of such a collaboration. By investing the time and resources necessary to cultivate internal congruity, companies will not only maximize their partnership outcomes but will also strengthen their internal operations, setting the stage for sustained success in a technology-driven future.

 

 

About the Author:

Kristin Shores is a results-driven Strategic Partner Executive with a proven track record of cultivating and nurturing high-value partnerships that drive business growth and innovation. With over a decade of experience in the field, Kristin’s expertise lies at the intersection of relationship-building, strategic planning, and business development. As a strategic thinker, Kristin leverages her comprehensive knowledge of market trends and emerging technologies to craft innovative partnership strategies that position her organizations at the forefront of their respective industries. Her ability to adapt to evolving market landscapes and pivot with agility has been instrumental in delivering sustainable growth.  Connect with Kristin on LinkedIn. 

 

Contact Kristin to learn more about Interlace Health’s Partnership Program: kshores@interlacehealth.com

 

 

A Blueprint for Success: The Vital Role of Collaborative Partnerships in Healthcare Technology

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In today’s rapidly evolving healthcare landscape, technological advancements have become instrumental in improving patient engagement and ultimately leading to better health outcomes.

As technology continues to revolutionize the healthcare industry, the importance of collaborative partnerships has never been more evident. These partnerships allow healthcare providers, technology companies, and patients to combine their expertise and resources to develop and implement innovative solutions. By working together, these stakeholders can address challenges such as data interoperability, privacy concerns, and limited access to care.

Furthermore, collaborative partnerships foster a culture of continuous learning and improvement. Through shared knowledge and experiences, stakeholders can collectively identify best practices and strategies for implementing and scaling healthcare technologies.  I also feel that it is worth noting this is not a new concept but rather tried and true as history often proves time and again, Rosabeth Moss Kanter summarized it well when she said “Business alliances are living systems, evolving progressively in their possibilities” which was published back in the July-August 1994 edition of Harvard Business Review; Joint Ventures, Collaborative Advantage: The Art of Alliances (hbr.org).

As with any endeavor, collaborative partnerships in healthcare technology face their fair share of challenges and barriers.

Building trust and fostering a shared vision is essential in aligning these diverse interests. By actively engaging in open and honest discussions, partners can find common ground and develop a collective understanding of the desired outcomes.

The rapidly evolving nature of technology presents a challenge in and of itself. Innovation and advancements occur seemingly overnight and require partners to be adaptable and flexible. By embracing a mindset of continuous learning and staying up to date with industry trends, collaborative partnerships can navigate the ever-changing landscape of healthcare technology successfully.

 

Collaboration Drives Innovation and Better Outcomes

Cross-vendor collaboration within the healthcare IT space is nothing new, however, more recently within the past few years there has been an increase in innovative solutions that are driving better outcomes and improving access to care like never before.  Collaborative partnerships offer numerous benefits for the betterment of healthcare overall as it not only provides us with the ability to gain invaluable insights and understanding of the industry’s needs and pain points. But also allows us to develop solutions that are tailored to meet these specific challenges, resulting in more impactful and effective technologies.

For example, Google Cloud and MEDITECH; this collaboration enabled MEDITECH the ability to migrate more than 2,000 on-premise VMs over to Google Cloud.  As a result MEDITECH is able to access more data stores, now and in the future,  and can enable their customers flexibility to scale quicker, faster and at a more affordable rate, then before (MEDITECH: Designing innovative software solutions in the cloud to improve patient care).  Ultimately, MEDITECHs healthcare customers can focus more on delivering quality care, that is easily accessible in a secure and compliant environment.

Another example of a successful collaboration is Nuance Communications and NVIDIA.  This, state-of-the-art, partnership may not have spearheaded Artificial Intelligence (AI) into the healthcare IT space, but it would suffice to say it was the impetus that drove the AI influx moving forward.  This collaboration increases data delivery times from years to months, to days from weeks and hours to minutes, which provides improved patient care and better outcomes at more affordable costs (Nuance Communications and NVIDIA Bring Medical-Imaging AI Models Directly Into Clinical Settings).

“The implementation of AI to analyze big data, especially in the area of imaging, and to develop new algorithms for medical treatment is at the heart of many emerging strategic partnerships” (Driving Innovation in Health Care Through Strategic Partnerships HBR Analytic Services).

As Nuance, Google, MEDITECH and NVIDIA prove, innovation and collaboration often arise from strong partnerships. By learning from these examples, we can gain valuable insights and further understand the vital role that collaborative partnerships play in building a thriving healthcare technology ecosystem.

While collaborative partnerships in healthcare technology have the potential to revolutionize the industry, not all partnerships are successful. To ensure a fruitful collaboration, there are key elements that both healthcare technology companies and their partners must consider.  Below I have highlighted five areas that are key to the success of any partnership.

 

5 Key elements for successful collaborative partnerships

 

1.) Trust & Mutual Respect — It is important both parties demonstrate trust in each other’s capabilities and expertise. This involves being open to feedback and ideas, as well as valuing the contributions of all stakeholders. Trust builds a solid foundation for collaboration, allowing for greater innovation and shared success.

 

2.) Shared Vision & Goals — Alignment is crucial. It is important all parties have a clear understanding of the problem they are trying to solve and how the partnership will help achieve it. When everyone is working towards a common purpose, it fosters collaboration, creativity, and drives the project forward.  Clearly defining the shared goals and expectations of all partners is essential for a successful collaboration. This includes outlining specific outcomes, milestones, and timelines. By setting these parameters from the beginning, partners can align their efforts and ensure everyone is working towards a common purpose.

 

3.) Open Communication — Effective communication is the cornerstone of a successful collaborative partnership. Regular and open dialogue among all stakeholders can help address misunderstandings, resolve conflicts, and promote a sense of trust. Utilizing various communication tools and platforms can facilitate seamless information sharing and collaboration. This includes establishing an agreed upon cadence of communication channels.  It is important to set goals and expectations up-front as this will ensure all parties are on the same page. Effective communication ensures that everyone involved understands the project scope, timeline, and desired outcomes.

 

4.) Flexibility & Adaptability — Technology in general is rapidly evolving and healthcare technology is no different if not more complex as it adds the nuances of legislative mandates and shifting patient needs and expectations into the mix. Partners must be willing to adapt and adjust their strategies as new insights or challenges arise. By remaining flexible, partners can respond effectively to changes in the industry and ensure the success of their collaborative efforts. Regularly evaluating and adjusting strategies and approaches can help partners stay ahead in a dynamic industry.

 

5.) Celebrate & Educate — Celebrate success but also learn from failures.  Recognizing and celebrating successes, both big and small, is important in maintaining motivation and morale within the partnership. Equally important is learning from failures and using them as insights to improve future endeavors. By adopting a growth mindset and leveraging both successes and failures, partners can continuously improve and evolve.

 

While there may be challenges and barriers to overcome, the potential benefits of collaborative partnerships in healthcare technology are undeniable. By proactively addressing these challenges and leveraging effective strategies, partners can overcome obstacles and achieve remarkable results.

 

About the Author:

Kristin Shores is a results-driven Strategic Partner Executive with a proven track record of cultivating and nurturing high-value partnerships that drive business growth and innovation. With over a decade of experience in the field, Kristin’s expertise lies at the intersection of relationship-building, strategic planning, and business development. As a strategic thinker, Kristin leverages her comprehensive knowledge of market trends and emerging technologies to craft innovative partnership strategies that position her organizations at the forefront of their respective industries. Her ability to adapt to evolving market landscapes and pivot with agility has been instrumental in delivering sustainable growth.  Connect with Kristin on LinkedIn. 

 

Contact Kristin to learn more about Interlace Health’s Partnership Program: kshores@interlacehealth.com

 

 

Embracing a Collaborative Mindset: Revolutionizing Healthcare Technology Through Partnerships

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Let’s face it, healthcare technology can be a real headache. From navigating complex electronic health records (EHR), to trying to engage patients in their own care, it can feel like an uphill battle.    

Healthcare technology has come a long way, from clunky systems to the cutting-edge digital solutions we have today. But how did we get here?   I think to answer that question accurately, it is important to first understand why and how we got to the place we are at today. I believe it boils down to a multitude of things: regulatory requirements, interoperability mandates, and the need for innovation, just to name a few. But overall, it was and still is just a simple need.  A need to be better, a need to improve.  So, how did we get here? I believe the answer to that is tied to strategic partnerships and the rise of third-party vendor integrations. 

Certainly, regulations have helped ensure that disparate systems communicate and share information, but it is oftentimes the sub-components of these systems that are sometimes seen as an afterthought that I am most interested in.  Third-party vendors often have solutions that fill a specific need, a specific use case that is a component of the patient journey or care continuum.  Alone they are just a piece of the puzzle, but together with other technologies, they can create more efficient and cost-effective solutions. 

MEDITECH, a leading EHR vendor, announced its Alliance program earlier this year with a goal to create a better ecosystem of solution vendors to support their health system clients. Interlace Health was named an Innovation Partner, providing the ability for a deeper integration between our eSignature solutions and the Meditech Expanse EHR. As a result, nurses, doctors, and patients will get a seamless workflow when completing registration, consenting, and discharge documentation. 

But customers are looking for all their vendors’ products to work well together – not simply work with the EHR. At the MEDITECH Live 2023 event, a Midwestern CIO shared this request: “I need all of you guys (3rd party vendors) to work well together so my patients and doctors have a hassle-free experience”. Along those lines, we are working with key members of the MEDITECH ecosystem, including Forward Advantage, to make sure that our solutions are not only compatible with each other but that the workflows are optimized. 

 Bottom line, the Healthcare Technology industry needs partnerships to help ensure improvement and innovation continue.  Partnerships with, and among, third-party vendors provide the extra boost of support and expertise that can make all the difference.   There is not one size fits all.  This is no truer now than it will be in the future; gaps in functionality exist and will probably continue to exist.  Which is why partnerships are so important.  To create a full-scale solution, one that fits the needs of each unique organization, it is crucial that technology vendors have partnerships that enable them to work together in a united front.  

With these partnerships, healthcare organizations can access cutting-edge technology, gain valuable insights, and tap into specialized knowledge and experience. 

  

 

About the Author:

Kristin Shores is a results-driven Strategic Partner Executive with a proven track record of cultivating and nurturing high-value partnerships that drive business growth and innovation. With over a decade of experience in the field, Kristin’s expertise lies at the intersection of relationship-building, strategic planning, and business development. As a strategic thinker, Kristin leverages her comprehensive knowledge of market trends and emerging technologies to craft innovative partnership strategies that position her organizations at the forefront of their respective industries. Her ability to adapt to evolving market landscapes and pivot with agility has been instrumental in delivering sustainable growth.”

 

 

 

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