Skip to content
  • About
  • Contact
  • Contribute
  • Book
  • Careers
  • Podcast
  • Recommended
  • Speaking
  • All
  • Physician
  • Practice
  • Policy
  • Finance
  • Conditions
  • .edu
  • Patient
  • Meds
  • Tech
  • Social
  • Video
    • All
    • Physician
    • Practice
    • Policy
    • Finance
    • Conditions
    • .edu
    • Patient
    • Meds
    • Tech
    • Social
    • Video
    • About
    • Contact
    • Contribute
    • Book
    • Careers
    • Podcast
    • Recommended
    • Speaking

IT deficits are eating hospital profits. CEOs need to wake up.

Matt Dayer, RN
Tech
March 3, 2020
380 Shares
Share
Tweet
Share

I work for a hospital network with the world’s slowest computers.  I timed it: Last shift, it took me fifteen minutes to log on. The first computer obtained didn’t function at all.  It had been worked on the day before by information technology services (IT).

Efficiency and time management appear to be amongst top priorities in medicine. “Did they get their aspirin 24 hours after getting their clot-busting drug after cleared of a brain bleed by a scan?” “Did they get their antibiotic within an hour of being recognized as a sepsis risk?”  “The census is low. We’re sending you home early; make sure you punch out in the next half hour.”

I would presume efficiency issues plague many healthcare networks. However, I have worked for two others without IT problems.  I actually become very vocal with one network whenever IT moves to change anything.  It seems to be working.

So what happens when we spend fifteen minutes trying to log in? Stress.  How do I medicate my patients efficiently? We could skip scanning medications, but Medicare reimbursements are dependent upon the percentage of medications scanned.  We could medicate and then go back and scan the medications. Unfortunately, many blister-packed pills position the bar code for scanning directly behind the pill.  This means once the pill is popped out of that blister pack, you can no longer scan it. And of course, for all the nervous Nancies out there, yes, there are safety checks and patient/lab/vital sign verifications that would be missed without scanning medications.

So why are we worried about picking apart every metric we can except for the speed of the technology we rely on to do our jobs? Most likely because desktop computers are usable.  It doesn’t affect managers.  Imagine I swap out my crumby mobile computer on wheels with the CEOs.  How fast would this problem get solved?

More importantly, how much money do we pay our IT team to essentially accomplish nothing due to a lack of server and router resources?  And why, as a floor nurse, should I be this deep into my knowledge of the technical issues plaguing this hospital network?

My history teacher taught me the word that sums it up.  It’s called “apathy.”  An attitude of disregard.  “All the nurses are always complaining about the computers.”  There’s a reason for it.  My patient is pissed because it took me twenty minutes to get them their narcotics.  I’m pissed because if I hadn’t waited for the computer to function so I can scan the medication, I could potentially be in trouble.

With all the changes we make to the charting system, you don’t think an effective change would be showing the user their medication scan rate?  Maybe I could start my morning off without scanning medications if I knew what my numbers were.

When I started working as a nurse, I wasn’t afraid of “big asks.”  I made some in the retail and legal fields that worked out great.  However, I’ve learned to meter my “asks” in medicine.  After continual disappointment, I would settle for a small victory.

I just wish our CEO knew how much of his lunch was being eaten by information technology deficits.  Wake up.

Matt Dayer is a nurse and can be reached on Twitter @DayerRn.

Image credit: Shutterstock.com

Prev

How 5-year-olds brought out the joy of learning in medical students

March 2, 2020 Kevin 0
…
Next

During the coronarvirus outbreak: A failure to recognize physicians' worth

March 3, 2020 Kevin 1
…

Tagged as: Health IT, Hospital-Based Medicine, Practice Management

Post navigation

< Previous Post
How 5-year-olds brought out the joy of learning in medical students
Next Post >
During the coronarvirus outbreak: A failure to recognize physicians' worth

More by Matt Dayer, RN

  • When a medical facility isn’t equipped to handle profound mental health issues

    Matt Dayer, RN

Related Posts

  • Don’t judge when trainees use dating apps in the hospital

    Austin Perlmutter, MD
  • Are hospital CEOs responding to the realities of health care?

    Ammura Hernandez, MD
  • 5 challenges of working in a county hospital

    Pranav Sharma, MD
  • Hospital administrators thinking about no-cost treatment which really helps patients

    John Corsino, DPT
  • What do hospital discounts really mean?

    Robert S. Berry, MD
  • Redefining what a hospital library should be

    Abeer Arain, MD, MPH

More in Tech

  • AI is living up to its promise as a tool for radiology

    Hoag Memorial Hospital Presbyterian
  • I’m tired of being a distracted doctor

    Shiv Rao, MD
  • AI-driven diagnostics and beyond

    Michael Kirsch, MD
  • The need for adaptability is imperative in the era of artificial intelligence

    Harvey Castro, MD, MBA
  • Harnessing the power of gamification in mental health apps

    Carter Do and Thomas Pak, MD, PhD
  • Leveraging ChatGPT’s high IQ to assist doctors

    Harvey Castro, MD, MBA
  • Most Popular

  • Past Week

    • Ethical considerations in medicine: unity and open discourse

      Andrew Zywiec, MD | Physician
    • Unveiling excessive medical billing and greed

      Amol Saxena, DPM, MPH | Policy
    • I’m a doctor, and I almost died during childbirth

      Bayo Curry-Winchell, MD | Physician
    • For newer doctors, avoid lifestyle inflation

      Amarish Dave, DO | Finance
    • Family support is pivotal in the treatment of schizophrenia

      Frank Chen, MD | Conditions
    • Chronic health issues and homelessness

      Michele Luckenbaugh | Policy
  • Past 6 Months

    • Medical gaslighting: a growing challenge in today’s medical landscape

      Tami Burdick | Conditions
    • Balancing opioid medication in chronic pain

      L. Joseph Parker, MD | Conditions
    • I want to be a doctor who can provide care for women: What states must I rule out for my medical education?

      Nandini Erodula | Education
    • Navigating the broken medical system: challenges faced by foreign medical graduates

      Anonymous | Physician
    • The essence of medicine: genuine connections in practice

      Jennifer Tillman, MD | Physician
    • 1 in 4 attempt suicide: the persecution of autistic physicians

      Patricia Celan, MD | Physician
  • Recent Posts

    • Family support is pivotal in the treatment of schizophrenia

      Frank Chen, MD | Conditions
    • Is emergency medicine your calling? [PODCAST]

      The Podcast by KevinMD | Podcast
    • Exploring disfigurement and self-worth

      Kathleen Watt | Conditions
    • AI is living up to its promise as a tool for radiology

      Hoag Memorial Hospital Presbyterian | Tech
    • The shifting landscape of gastroenterology manpower and compensation

      Brian Hudes, MD | Physician
    • I’m tired of being a distracted doctor

      Shiv Rao, MD | Tech

Subscribe to KevinMD and never miss a story!

Get free updates delivered free to your inbox.


Find jobs at
Careers by KevinMD.com

Search thousands of physician, PA, NP, and CRNA jobs now.

Learn more

View 1 Comments >

Founded in 2004 by Kevin Pho, MD, KevinMD.com is the web’s leading platform where physicians, advanced practitioners, nurses, medical students, and patients share their insight and tell their stories.

Social

  • Like on Facebook
  • Follow on Twitter
  • Connect on Linkedin
  • Subscribe on Youtube
  • Instagram

CME Spotlights

From MedPage Today

Latest News

  • Loneliness Needs to Be Treated Like Any Other Health Condition, Researcher Suggests
  • 'Con Man' Gets Another Top Hospital Job, This Time at Penn Medicine
  • TikTok Dinged for Misinformation; BRCA Risk Overestimated; Cheers for Oncology
  • Flawed Rules in No Surprises Act Hurt Doctors and Patients, Experts Say
  • IG Live September 25: When the Healers Need Healing

Meeting Coverage

  • Loneliness Needs to Be Treated Like Any Other Health Condition, Researcher Suggests
  • Stopping Medical Misinformation Requires Early Detection
  • AI Has an Image Problem in Healthcare, Expert Says
  • Want Better Health Outcomes? Check Out What Other Countries Do
  • ERS Roundup: Cell Transplant Boosts Lung Function in COPD Patients
  • Most Popular

  • Past Week

    • Ethical considerations in medicine: unity and open discourse

      Andrew Zywiec, MD | Physician
    • Unveiling excessive medical billing and greed

      Amol Saxena, DPM, MPH | Policy
    • I’m a doctor, and I almost died during childbirth

      Bayo Curry-Winchell, MD | Physician
    • For newer doctors, avoid lifestyle inflation

      Amarish Dave, DO | Finance
    • Family support is pivotal in the treatment of schizophrenia

      Frank Chen, MD | Conditions
    • Chronic health issues and homelessness

      Michele Luckenbaugh | Policy
  • Past 6 Months

    • Medical gaslighting: a growing challenge in today’s medical landscape

      Tami Burdick | Conditions
    • Balancing opioid medication in chronic pain

      L. Joseph Parker, MD | Conditions
    • I want to be a doctor who can provide care for women: What states must I rule out for my medical education?

      Nandini Erodula | Education
    • Navigating the broken medical system: challenges faced by foreign medical graduates

      Anonymous | Physician
    • The essence of medicine: genuine connections in practice

      Jennifer Tillman, MD | Physician
    • 1 in 4 attempt suicide: the persecution of autistic physicians

      Patricia Celan, MD | Physician
  • Recent Posts

    • Family support is pivotal in the treatment of schizophrenia

      Frank Chen, MD | Conditions
    • Is emergency medicine your calling? [PODCAST]

      The Podcast by KevinMD | Podcast
    • Exploring disfigurement and self-worth

      Kathleen Watt | Conditions
    • AI is living up to its promise as a tool for radiology

      Hoag Memorial Hospital Presbyterian | Tech
    • The shifting landscape of gastroenterology manpower and compensation

      Brian Hudes, MD | Physician
    • I’m tired of being a distracted doctor

      Shiv Rao, MD | Tech

MedPage Today Professional

An Everyday Health Property Medpage Today
  • Terms of Use | Disclaimer
  • Privacy Policy
  • DMCA Policy
All Content © KevinMD, LLC
Site by Outthink Group

IT deficits are eating hospital profits. CEOs need to wake up.
1 comments

Comments are moderated before they are published. Please read the comment policy.

Loading Comments...