The global healthcare sector is facing a staffing crisis. Rising costs and the strain of the pandemic mean that healthcare facilities have less budget to spend on frontline services. 

On top of that, people are leaving the profession faster than ever before; some are burnt out by strains of the pandemic, others from the pressures of the job where healthcare professionals can face challenging situations such as workplace violence.

Put together, the World Health Organisation estimates that by 2030 there will be a global shortfall of 10mn health workers. In addition, research shows that demand for healthcare is only set to increase. 

But health technology can change this.

Technology designed to support healthcare professionals 

The need to support medical professionals to do their jobs as efficiently as possible so they can keep their patients safe has never been more critical. Bringing technology and innovation into the core of health care delivery can help relieve the pressure on already stretched services, allowing doctors and nurses to spend more time on direct patient care.

As the World Health Organization observes its 75th anniversary this year, we look at how our healthcare companies are helping to create the future of healthcare for all with their technologies.

Halma is a global group of life-saving technology companies. A FTSE 100 company, Halma has a significant investment in the healthcare sector in North America, mainland Europe and the UK, Asia Pacific, and South America. 

A connected hospital for better decisions

One third of nurses report spending at least one hour during an average shift hunting for equipment. Halma company CenTrak offers a real-time location system which helps medical staff locate the nearest available equipment so they can prioritise focus on patient care. This is especially critical in life-or-death situations where every second counts. 

Moreover, staff badges enabled with CenTrak’s emergency technology can keep staff safe from any threats they may face while on the job. During an emergency or threatening situation, staff press on their badge and the application communicates the identity of the staff member along with their precise location.

By tagging medical devices with digital sensors, cross-contamination is minimised and staff know which devices have been cleaned, according to recommended protocols. Giving care professionals the insights that they need to make well-informed decisions for their patients, colleagues and equipment is critical in reducing stress, combating burnout and promoting staff retention.

“Healthcare staff are in need of support, and our offerings simplify processes and give hospitals of all sizes the additional insight required for patient care,” said Crystal Ryan, Chief Commercial Officer for CenTrak.

Connecting clinical staff and patients for better care with technology

With increasing patient numbers, medical staff can benefit from more efficient means of communication when they’re working. 

Many calls are non-clinical in nature, such as patients needing a water refill or a change of bed sheets. To solve this, SSG’s nurse call solutions enable speech communication between clinical staff and their patients. 

By talking to the patient in advance, staff can check what’s needed and direct the call accordingly, reducing the number of unnecessary nurse visits while still providing reassurance to the patient. In fact, studies have shown that nurse call systems integrated with hands-free communication devices reduced nurse-to-patient response time by 51% and improved the nursing staff’s workload.

“There are thousands of vacancies in the NHS and medical staff are stretched to capacity. It’s critical doctors and nurses receive and prioritise critical patient information rather than spend time on administrative tasks or false alarms,” said Rosemary Cunningham Thomas, Managing Director, SSG. “We listen to medical professionals and are evolving our products to help them do their jobs as efficiently as possible so they can keep their patients safe. With SSG’s smart healthcare system, medical staff have more time to spend on quality care for our loved ones.”

The digital revolution is supporting healthcare providers with the ever-changing demands of the healthcare environment while preserving resources, reducing costs and improving patient care.

By enabling healthcare facilities to connect their staff and patients, and keep track of what matters, these Halma companies are improving the quality of care delivered by healthcare providers, helping to ensure a healthier future for everyone, every day.

Bill Stoval, Divisional Chief Executive for Healthcare at Halma.