Buyers Speak
Embracing the new normal
Post pandemic, the way a hospital functions has changed significantly. Digital health has taken the center stage. We are now moving toward adaptation to newer technologies, which can help connect and engage with patients for a better patient experience.
Last couple of years, there has been a sprout in innovative digital health solutions. Hospitals embracing these newer technologies will be able to adapt faster to the change in dynamics.
Secondly, importance of good quality nursing care has become a prime factor in providing quality treatment and care. During the pandemic phase, all doctors and healthcare workers were at the forefront, and amongst them the nursing care has undergone a sea change. Hospitals across the country will look at training nurses and supporting them with high-end equipment, infrastructure resources, training workshops, and knowledge sharing.
The pandemic has also enabled the smaller hospitals and nursing homes cater to critically ill patients. This has paved way for the need to have an effective management of ICUs, not just in bigger but also in smaller hospitals.
The ICUs should be well equipped with infrastructure, medical equipment, sufficient manpower, and qualified paramedics. This effective management of ICU will be a key factor for any hospital, irrespective of the size.
There has also been a paradigm shift in patient mindset, which is illness to wellness. The focus is magnifying toward awareness on preventive healthcare, where people are constantly encouraged to undergo routine health checkups, and we can see a rise in the same in the coming years. Master health checkups will be taken more seriously, which will help diagnose health issues much earlier, thereby improving the quality of life.
While systems and resources play a vital role in effective functioning, what we cannot miss is the management of hospital finance, which includes avoiding wastages and pilferages. It is essential for an owner to look beyond balance sheets. Basic understanding and examination of simple accounting procedures like profit and loss accounts, pharmacy and store functions, understanding the key revenue departments, and cost cutting by not compromising on quality will ensure smooth functioning. Awareness and understanding the key metrics on a daily basis will accelerate the growth and aid in decision making.
While these are some changes we have been seeing internally, external factors also play a vital role.
For instance, the UHID initiative by the Government of India, which helps bring health records of Indian citizens under one platform is a big technological and digital boon, which will completely change the way every hospital will function.
Thus, a successful healthcare organization is the one which embraces changes, is ready to accept new norms, and adapts to regulations put forward by the government.
