The SOTI study surveyed 1,450 healthcare IT decision makers globally, with 150 respondents from Canada. The survey, conducted between March 7 and March 25, 2024, covered roles such as hospitals, general practices, medical clinics and organizations that provide telehealth services. The survey findings highlight the vital importance of technological advancements in healthcare to improve patient outcomes and operational efficiencies.
Urgent need for upgrade
Outdated technology remains a persistent problem in Canadian healthcare facilities. Surveys show that 96% of Canadian healthcare IT decision makers believe their organizations need to invest in better technology. “Canadian healthcare workers are often burdened with inefficient systems that slow them down and put patient safety at risk,” explains Ishkanov. This inefficiency is evident, with 99% of healthcare staff losing an average of 3.9 hours per week due to technology issues, a slight increase from 3.4 hours in 2023.
The impact of these technology deficiencies is significant, lengthening patient treatment times and hindering the ability to efficiently share and access patient records. “When you look at legacy technology, it may be really outdated mobile handheld devices that are causing issues throughout the day,” Ishkanov noted, highlighting the need for modern, reliable technology to support healthcare workers.
Addressing violence and fatigue through technology
One significant challenge in healthcare is the issue of violence against nurses. Ishkanov suggests that technological advances, especially in training, could play a key role. “Other industries are using AR technology to simulate real-life situations to help employees respond appropriately to difficult situations. This could be extremely useful in training nurses how to handle violent situations,” he says.
Fatigue among healthcare workers, especially nurses, is another pressing concern. Long shifts and long overtime hours lead to serious burnout. “The biggest impact on this is driving workflow automation and process optimization,” Ishkanov asserts. By digitizing administrative tasks and leveraging mobile technology, healthcare workers can significantly reduce the time they spend on paperwork. Ishkanov gives this example: “One organization in Ontario provided nurses with tablets to enter patient notes in real time. This significantly reduced the time spent on manual paperwork, allowing nurses to focus more on patient care.”
