Streamlining Nursing Care With Tech Aimed at Efficiency, Satisfaction, and Safety for All

Nurses are in higher demand than ever—and they’re also being overworked at unprecedented rates. To put it lightly, something’s got to give. And a big part of the solution is, of course, technology in nursing.

With advances in tech like electronic health records (EHRs) and patient engagement software, patients receive better care and nurses are able to improve patient outcomes and manage their workloads.  

Efficiencies brought on by advances in technology in nursing mean they can access, analyze, and utilize patient data like never before. This improved capability results in better patient outcomes and promotes a more dynamic and responsive experience overall.  

Streamlined documentation processes allow nurses to access patient information quickly and efficiently, resulting in better time management. And better time management enables nurses to spend more time on patient care instead of administrative tasks.  

New Technology in Nursing Continues to Deliver Value to the Front Lines

Over the last several decades, improvements in patient care have been linked back to technology advancements in healthcare.  

Patient safety has been given a continuous boost thanks to these advancements, along with patient satisfaction and outcomes. There’s no doubt that technology is having a direct impact on things like how long patients wait to be seen, how many times they’re asked to provide the same information, and the quality of their health overall in large part thanks to digital leaps like electronic prescribing, medication reconciliation, prior authorization, telehealth, and more.  

Here are a few examples of technologies in healthcare that are helping improve patient care: 

• Electronic health data-sharing: Thanks to advancements in healthcare technology, providers across the country have ever-expanding access to up-to-date records for their patient including care delivered at multiple disparate locations and from several providers. They can securely communicate with each other and coordinate care, and they can leave cumbersome manual workflows to digital automation.  
• Telehealth: Healthcare carried millions of patients through the pandemic using the power of telehealth. And it’s here to stay. Health systems are increasingly implementing solutions like telenursing to help address shortages and meet patient demand. Care encounters can take place online or on the phone, and nurses can diagnose and follow up on health conditions and symptoms remotely.  
• Artificial intelligence (AI): One of AI’s most promising roles is in clinical decision support at the point of care. AI algorithms analyze a vast amount of patient data to assist medical professionals in making more informed decisions about next steps to treatment and care. Systems that incorporate AI can also improve error detection and manage drug delivery. 
• Wearables: The more patients participate in their own healthcare and partner with their providers on improving certain health metrics, the more those providers can make informed decisions and improve health outcomes. That’s why wearable devices such as smartwatches, fitness trackers, and continuous glucose monitoring sensors are so important. This technology in nursing allows nurses and other caretakers to treat patients and improve outcomes based on personal statistics and data. They allow for early detection and prompt intervention, reducing complications and hospital readmissions.

How Technology in Nursing Boosts Efficiency

Remember when nurses used to make rounds to check on patient medications being administered intravenously? Many facilities no longer require that process thanks to technology in nursing, like smart pumps which have replaced human intervention and allowed for more accurate administration of meds and fluids. Just imagine the positive impacts on efficiency, safety, and patient satisfaction of this technology alone.   

Technology in nursing and healthcare also enhances efficiency via: 

• Automated workflows and task management systems: An automated workflow makes for a more efficient workday and creates greater patient safety by helping reduce medication errors through features like electronic medication administration records (eMAR) and barcode scanning for medication verification. Technology in nursing is also creating efficiencies that help get nurses off the clock on time, which improves the burnout trend long after the worst of the pandemic has passed.  
• Mobile apps and communication tools: Healthcare providers can use mobile health apps to schedule appointments, access patient information, and communicate with patients remotely. Mobile apps also provide immediate and accurate access to patient records at the speed of a click. They can help nurses spend more time treating patients and improve health outcomes by making critical information readily available, minimizing time-consuming record-keeping and other administrative tasks. 
• Real-time data analytics: Real-time data analytics provide updates to nurses and staff more efficiently, including timely, relevant patient insights that save time and improve care. They’re also used for capacity planning for care settings like the emergency department where a better picture of patient flow and occupancy can make a major difference to every aspect of care. Nurses can use data analytics to understand patient trends and macro data on outcomes. It’s this coupling of technology with evidence-based practice that helps nurses make informed decisions and improve healthcare quality, safety, and cost in the process.  
• Patient monitoring: This is like the smart pumps mentioned above—technologies that help optimize resources. By replacing manual or outdated systems and processes that require human intervention with modernized applications and automated technologies, nurses can work smarter, faster, and with greater precision. 

This technology in nursing also enables nurses to remotely monitor patients’ health and provide virtual consultations, making healthcare accessible to patients in remote or underserved areas. Smart beds allow nurses to monitor patients’ weight, movement, and vitals, which can help prevent bedsores, injuries, and misdiagnoses—all while reducing the time nurses spend on adjusting equipment and supplies.  

Technology in Nursing as Healthcare’s Edge in Reaching the Best Possible Patient Outcomes

Nurses are called to healthcare for one reason: to help people.

Technology in nursing is our friend when it comes to training and support for these altruistic nurses. And it’s a bit mind-bending to consider that there are technologies that specifically measure the impact technology is having on patient care and nursing efficiency. So, technology measures the impact of other technology. Got it.  

We’re the Remede for Care That’s Human-Centered and Technology-Enabled

It’s important to note that while technology in nursing and healthcare means efficiency in many areas, it also means nurses can slow down and spend time with the people who matter most: patients. After all, new technology in healthcare cannot solve our biggest challenges on its own. The human touch will always be needed.   

If your organization is looking to staff up to meet patient demand, help your core nursing team avoid burnout, or work around the unexpected disruptions of a healthcare system in flux, the team at Remede can help. We’ll get to know your goals and challenges and deploy top talent with the exact skills you need—whether for the short term or the long haul.  

Contact Remede today to learn how we can support your healthcare facility with workforce solutions that deliver real value fast and help you ensure seamless patient care, come what may.