In Period of “Sustained Turbulence,” Healthcare Companies Find Inspiration from the Frontlines of Care

“I know what it’s like to go home and cry.” Those powerful words hung in the air at the Sales Kick Off for healthcare operations company symplr earlier this year as a former nurse recalled the story of a patient in her care who died before she had time to come back and check on him. He was only 45 years old.

Her story is unfortunately not uncommon for care providers today who are working longer hours than ever to keep up with increasing patient demands amidst ongoing staffing shortages. Adding to this burden, caregivers and other healthcare staff frequently rely on outdated, siloed technologies that too often seem to detract from patient care.

Coming out of COVID, KPMG predicted healthcare would see “sustained turbulence in a post-pandemic market” as health systems and hospitals faced continued workforce, regulatory and security challenges coupled with pressures to cut costs and improve margins. Those same pressures loomed large at ViVE and HIMSS earlier this year, as healthcare organizations and suppliers considered the role technology — and AI in particular — can play in alleviating the administrative burden on care professionals to help healthcare run more efficiently and effectively as a whole.

As symplr’s clinical leadership team took the stage earlier this year, they reminded us that while mounting industry pressures are top of mind for the C-suite, they also affect frontline workers significantly. And for healthcare workers, it all comes down to how inefficiencies negatively impact patient safety and care. The voices on stage took on extra resonance when they emphasized that healthcare technology and services aren’t just commodities that help companies improve their bottom line; for patients and those closest to them on the frontlines, the right technology can make a world of difference.

Consider, for instance, what it means to save precious minutes for a stroke patient. What happens in the first 60 minutes after a stroke can be a matter of life or death.

With all the talk of the many ongoing challenges in healthcare — and the acute crises such as the Change Healthcare hack that rock the entire healthcare ecosystem and leave long-lasting damages in their wake —it’s important to remember that healthcare is about people. Moments such as hearing from a team of seasoned healthcare veterans and inspiring innovators remind me why I joined Greenough Communications nearly a decade ago to focus on helping healthcare and life sciences brands tell their stories and make an impact. I left feeling inspired and energized, and carrying a few more pearls of wisdom that are worth passing along:

·      Focus your energy and strategic thinking where you can make the biggest impact. Get comfortable with what you’re going to prioritize and get grounded in those things.

·      You are allowed to have a little self-doubt .Push it out and replace it with purpose.

·      Customers don’t care about the product, they care about what problems you’re solving every day.

·      Accountability is critical. If a system goes down in healthcare, patients’ lives are at risk.

·      And finally, whether you are a solutions provider, clinician or patient, healthcare is personal.

What is inspiring you this year?