Real Culprits of Healthcare IT Implementation Derailment
According to a Definitive Healthcare study based on data from more than 5,000 U.S. hospitals, the average hospital IT expense for U.S. hospitals in 2023 was $9.51 million, which equates to 2.29% of a hospital’s total operating expenses.
Although technological innovation can revolutionize patient care, the process of implementing new IT systems remains challenging. When implementation isn’t carefully managed, hidden costs, inefficiencies, strained resources, and financial losses can burden organizations. Often, it is because of faulty planning and execution, causing delays in deployment, increasing operational costs, and delaying the return on investment. Poor data migration, a lack of interoperability, data security, and privacy concerns can lead to expensive solutions that were not originally accounted for in the project budget. Inefficient workflows before, during, and after healthcare IT implementations reduce operational efficiencies and increase costs substantially due to unclear project scope, a lack of realistic timelines, and miscalculated, insufficient risk management controls.
In addition to inadequate planning, human factors need to be addressed as well. Reliance on technology alone, without addressing underlying workflow and cultural issues, can lead to failure. The lack of stakeholder engagement, a project champion, or executive support can be disastrous to even getting the project off the ground. Poor change management during the project and a lack of pre-/post-training support negatively impede the progress of the new integrated applications and workflows.
How to Avoid Healthcare IT Pitfalls
To prevent the derailment of your healthcare IT implementation, here are some valuable lessons for professionals seeking to navigate the complex landscape of project management effectively:
Provide time for clear information sharing
Schedule regular updates & feedback sessions
Implement project management software, emails, and team collaboration platforms for transparent communication
Create realistic timelines and project budgets
Ensure appropriate resource allocation
Define project goals and deliverables from the start
Revisit and refine the project objectives continuously
Secure stakeholder alignment to confirm agreement on project goals
Complete risk assessment, identification, and prioritization
Develop strategies to minimize or avoid the impact of risks
Conduct testing before implementing new technologies
Produce alternative strategies and plans in case the new technology fails
Integrate new technology in phases
Manage and prioritize resources and project tasks effectively
Choose vendors based on their expertise and performance track record
Implement a process to review and approve scope changes to the project
Adhere to fully defined project goals and objectives
Inform all project stakeholders about anticipated changes and their implications
Identify and address all skill gaps on the team
Hire external resources when needed
By implementing these best practices, you can prevent IT headaches and cost overruns while boosting internal morale, efficiency, productivity, and profitability.
