Advances in technology over the past 20 years have changed almost every aspect of our lives. With every technological advance comes new opportunities to improve the way we deliver care and new challenges to overcome.
Technology is woven into every aspect of modern healthcare from the tools and equipment we use to how we communicate and access information. Advanced diagnostic tools help in accurate and early detection of diseases. The same tools also improve post-operative education and patient follow-up efforts, helping to reduce infection rates and potential complications.
Robotic-assisted surgeries and equipment, such as the new Varian linear accelerator at the Sanford Joe Lueken Cancer Center, offer more precise and less invasive options for patients, resulting in faster recovery times and a better experience. patient battery.
It is because of this connection and greater reliance on technology that Sanford Health must manage and plan for the future strategically. This includes planning for potential events, such as the blue screen issues that PCs have recently experienced around the world.
Providing health care is important. If the system is down or there is a natural disaster, it does not mean that people stop needing care. Here at Sanford Health, we have a responsibility to prepare and plan for every possible emergency. This includes a system shutdown plan.
At Sanford Health, we use the same incident command and planning structure that the Federal Emergency Management Agency uses when responding to disasters. This feature allows us to quickly analyze and respond to events, both large and small.
For example blue screen issues, our local event command has allowed us to identify what computers have been affected, notify staff to use downtime procedures, adjust relevant meeting schedules and implementing a plan to properly repair all affected computers in the Bemidji area. which reduces the impact on patient care.
I cannot express enough gratitude to our Technology Solutions team who visited every affected facility, clinic and site to help support our staff and minimize the impact on patient care.
Now more than ever, patients are able to collaborate and customize their health care to fit their needs. Online platforms, such as My Sanford Chart, allow patients to not only securely access their medical records and laboratory results in real time, but also allow them to manage time, fill orders and communicate with their nurses at a convenient time and place. for them.
A big part of preventive health is keeping up with recommended exams, tests and vaccinations. With the help of personalized reminders, patients don’t have to guess or trust that they will remember when they need to come in for a mammogram or colonoscopy. It gives them more freedom to plan their health care journeys in their lives instead of planning their lives in their health care journeys.
Virtual care is one of the most powerful tools we have to improve the health care experience. By providing the most advanced technology close to home, patients can receive immediate care, monitor their health and connect with a trusted provider from home or a nearby satellite clinic.
Over the past decade, Sanford Health has provided more than 760,000 consultations, saving patients from traveling more than 29 million miles on country roads or in inclement winter weather to receive quality care in a timely manner. make a difference.
In addition to helping patients, telemedicine also opens up opportunities for physician interaction and consultation. This past year, Sanford Medical Center Bemidji implemented telemedicine in its ICU in partnership with Sanford Medical Center Fargo. This program has created a direct channel of communication between local and Fargo physicians.
We are already seeing positive results from this partnership. This year, doctors in Bemidji and Fargo were able to easily communicate whether a postpartum mother needs to be transferred for advanced care. Together, they received the best possible treatment and, as a result, mother and baby were able to stay close to home while receiving the care they needed.
These are just some of the many opportunities that are developing to use technology in our community. Technology has and will continue to play an important role in rural healthcare.
Learning this new technology is not always easy. We are here to help patients overcome barriers and help in person, online and over the phone. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact us.
Karla Eischens, RPh, is President and CEO of Sanford Health’s Bemidji location in northern Minnesota. He can be reached at
(218) 333-5264
or
karla.eischens@sanfordhealth.org.
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