Why going paperless is the key to empowering your staff

From improving efficiency to attracting the next generation of healthcare professionals, there are many benefits to going paperless – find out more about this digital transformation below

CREDIT: This is an edited version of an article that originally appeared on Health Tech Newspaper

The healthcare industry has undergone significant changes in recent years, particularly around digital transformation and the move towards a paperless system.

England’s health secretary, at the time, Sajid Javid, set a goal for 90% of NHS trusts to use Electronic Patient Records (EPRs) by December 2023. This target is part of a larger effort to improve technical efficiency and help people work more effectively in the healthcare system.

The recent Hewitt Review has highlighted the need for continued improvement in technical efficiency. Although progress has been made with initiatives like the NHS App and Data Saves Lives plan, there is still a long way to go for the industry to achieve a fully paperless system that enables health and social care staff to thrive.

Reducing the administrative burden

Moving from paper-based data collection to real-time data dashboards can significantly reduce the administrative burden on healthcare staff, according to the Hewitt Review. By doing so, clinical and other staff can focus more on patient care and treatment.

According to a BT report, there is a need for the industry to remain people-focused, with 75% of NHS staff believing that team capacity (e.g., lack of relevant skills and/or resources) is slowing innovation.

With help from Radar Healthcare, Hertfordshire Community NHS Trust is reducing the pressures on their workforce by streamlining existing systems and processes. Using a fully integrated solution, they are able to analyse data from multiple sources automatically and provide a holistic view.

Jackie Davenport, the trust’s assistant director of governance and business support, said her goal “was to find a system that would make our processes smoother, seamless, and more efficient, so our clinical staff can focus on their day job.” 

Davenport added that the system “will underpin a trust-wide shift in culture to allow us to take risk and incident management to a new level.”

Infrastructure and cultural resistance to change

Despite having the right systems, a key issue partners still face is not having the right infrastructure. According to BT, 58% of NHS professionals still suffer from connectivity “not-spots,” and 51% have to switch between devices to carry out tasks. 

This is followed by a cultural resistance to change (37%) and workforce availability and capability (37%).

Culture change is one of the most challenged aspects of digital transformation, according to the Health Foundation’s report ‘Digital transformation in health and social care’ published in 2022. Staff may be resistant to new technologies or lack the necessary skills and training to use them effectively.

To address these challenges, it is essential to provide the right support and training for staff and patients. This can include investing in digital skills training and providing ongoing support and guidance to ensure that everyone can use digital tools effectively.

It is also crucial to involve staff and patients in the design and development of digital tools to ensure that they meet their needs and address their concerns.

Attracting the younger workforce

Even though the healthcare industry is constantly introducing digital roles, like chief nursing information officers and chief digital nurses, staffing shortages are still at an all-time high. 

Attracting a younger workforce from digitally nurtured generations remains a challenge. According to BT’s report, 83% agree that investing in technology can help the NHS to attract a younger workforce.

42% believe that staffing levels, shortages, and burnout will hold back digital transformation. To overcome this, it is essential to create an environment where innovation can thrive, with the right infrastructure, cultural support, and training programs in place.

Nearly three-quarters of NHS staff believe technology could help transform patient care in England, with over 80% claiming it could attract more ‘digital natives’ into the workforce, according to BT’s study.

Jo Dickson, former chief digital officer at NHS Digital, addressed this issue on a recent Digitell podcast episode titled ‘What clinical leaders need to know about digital’, saying: “If you want to recruit people into your organisation who are early in their careers, you have to be able to offer them something from a technology perspective because they won’t want to work for an organisation that is still using paper, because they’ve probably learned that makes them less safe.

“From a recruitment and retention perspective, there’s something really key about chief nurses understanding how technology can support them to recruit and retain staff.”

Digital transformation is vital for the healthcare industry since it provides significant benefits to staff, patients, and the wider community. Despite the challenges faced, such as infrastructure issues and cultural resistance to change, the industry must remain focused on innovation and attracting a younger workforce. 

By investing in technology and creating an environment where innovation can thrive, we can improve patient care, reduce the administrative burden on staff, and attract the next generation of healthcare professionals.