How to effectively integrate technology into clinical workflow

Dr. Lawrence "Rusty" Hofmann -

Lawrence "Rusty" Hofmann, co-founder of Grand Round and professor at Stanford School of Medicine, discusses how to integrate technology most effectively into a clinician's workflow.

Q: How can technology most efficiently integrate into a clinician's workflow to assist with care management and delivery?

A: At Grand Rounds we believe it’s important to think about the integration of technology from the physician experience, as much as the patient journey, in order to make a lasting and wide-reaching impact within the existing health care management and delivery system. For example, in traditional healthcare systems, physicians spend valuable time sifting through paperwork, when this time could be spent building more meaningful relationships with patients. At Grand Rounds, technology is paired with high touch services in order to serve physicians, patients and their families.

Q: What are the biggest roadblocks caregivers face in delivering the most efficient care? How can they be solved?

A: One of the biggest decisions each of us make as consumers is whether and where to receive health care. Caregivers are particularly burdened with the task of identifying the right doctor for their loved ones, with limited data to make an informed decision. It’s a daunting task because most of us simply don’t have the time or resources to navigate the complexities of the American medical system. A secondary roadblock is patient location which can exacerbate this challenge, narrowing options and access to quality medical care.

Health technology companies like Grand Rounds address these barriers to quality care by smartly matching patients with high-quality, in-network physicians—ideally suited to their specific medical needs and preferences— for remote second opinions or in-person care. Patients and their families using Grand Rounds are also supported by a high touch care team who serve as their advocate and guide throughout their medical journey. This combination of high tech and high touch care is the key to simplifying health care for patients and their families.

Q: Where do you see technology evolving in the healthcare space?

By combining the customization and scalability of technology with the specialist expertise of medical care, we will see health care delivery move to a more patient-centric model. We’re seeing more medical institutions focus on their expertise of delivering excellent patient care and partnering with health technology companies to innovate. One example of this is Grand Rounds’ access partnerships, where we direct employee customers to leading medical institutions. These partnerships are forming the foundation of new models of care and new care team formations, leveraging technology to solve challenges around access/reach, supply and clinical navigation.

While there are many exciting advancements in the healthcare space and the role that technology plays, one thing that will remain constant is the need for quality care.

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