5 Reasons Why a Clinical Communication and Collaboration Platform is Worth the Investment

As healthcare systems become increasingly complex, providers must continuously strive to improve communication and collaboration. Yet, relying solely on standard methods of communication, including electronic health record (EHR) secure chat, can be a dangerous game as security threats and cyberattacks continue to lurk. While standard EHRs provide secure messaging capabilities, the lack of interoperability between disparate systems can lead to inefficient communication and reduced patient care quality, putting the security of patient data—and the safe continuity of care—in jeopardy. As hackers evolve with technology, and there is continued concern over cyberattacks, EHRs can give way to unanticipated downtimes, ultimately hindering critical communication and putting patient data at risk. Healthcare organizations must find alternative means to ensure both patient safety and enable efficient communication, as well as stay one step ahead of cybercriminals. The future of effective healthcare delivery relies upon it. 

Investing in a clinical communication and collaboration (CC&C) platform is one of the most effective ways to break down barriers within healthcare. This powerful tool offers so much more than just a workaround when faced with downtime or outages in the event of a cyberattack; it can also help reduce costs, improve revenue, and enhance patient and provider satisfaction. 

For frontline healthcare workers, a CC&C platform provides an easy-to-use experience, enabling users to access important data quickly and accurately. In addition, it integrates with existing systems, streamlining communication and making it easier for teams to collaborate seamlessly. With these added benefits and features, it’s plain to see how CC&C could be a game-changer for healthcare organizations looking for robust solutions to tackle complex challenges. 

infographic 8 must ask questions ccp preview

8 Must-Ask Questions When Choosing A CC&C

Five Reasons Why a Clinical Communication and Collaboration Platform is Worth the Investment 

Implementing a clinical communication and collaboration platform can come with significant benefits and sidestep any risks that may arise elsewhere, including with connected technology like an EHR. Here are five key reasons why investing in this platform can be a win for healthcare organizations:

1. It Comes With Improved Efficiency    

In a healthcare setting, having an effective communication channel is of utmost importance. From providing timely updates to patients to quickly addressing potential issues to patient safety, immediate, secure, and efficient communication is essential. A centralized place for communication ensures that all information is received in a timely manner without the need to worry about messages slipping through the cracks. Information gets delivered correctly and more swiftly to the right people at the right time, which means faster response times for providers and patients alike. This can lead to improved overall satisfaction with better decisions being made based on accurate data. 

Furthermore, it gives back time to staff to focus on more important matters, like patient care, transitions of care, and discharges. This makes for more satisfied staff with lower burnout and less turnover. 

2. It Provides Increased Security 

Within a clinical communication and collaboration platform, HIPAA-compliant encryption protocols ensure that communication and patient data are kept secure, even if the device they are accessing is lost, stolen, or hacked. It can auto-delete messages after a certain period or remotely wipe a device to protect patient data completely. That means there will never be any unauthorized access or misuse of confidential data related to patients’ personal information. To that end, there will never be any reason for concern about unsecured communication because all clinical workflows, messages, and attachments are encrypted with the assurance that critical data is impossible to access. 

3. The Financial Benefits Are Plenty 

One of the most significant financial benefits of a clinical communication and collaboration platform is that it enables healthcare professionals to share data more efficiently, reducing the potential for administrative costs associated with data integration and transfer. By streamlining data management processes, productivity within workflows becomes more efficient, lowering operational costs.   

Additionally, the use of a clinical communication and collaboration platform for safe and efficient transitions of care has been shown to decrease 30-day readmissions. With the average cost of inpatient readmission at $15,200, incremental cost savings by reducing readmissions offers not only cost avoidance but happier and safer patients. Using your clinical communication and collaboration platform for care across the continuum provides a multitude of workflow efficiencies of which readmission reduction is a part.  

A clinical communication and collaboration platform provides access to a wealth of up-to-date medical information and resources, ultimately leading to more effective and efficient decision-making by providers. Better diagnostic accuracy and more efficient treatments undoubtedly lead to higher quality and cost savings.

4. Patient Outcomes Are Improved. 

Communication problems contributed to about 30% of medical malpractice claims filed between 2009 and 2013, according to a report published by CRICO Strategies, some of which ended in patient deaths. There’s no doubt that communication is of utmost importance regarding patient outcomes. A clinical communication and collaboration platform enables seamless communication among all care team members, eliminating silos of information between departments and facilities. This leads to better joint decision-making among all parties and better patient outcomes.

5. Silos Are Eliminated 

 With the right clinical communication and collaboration platform, silos can become a thing of the past. Automated data exchange and workflow solutions ensure healthcare teams have real-time access to critical patient information no matter where they are working. This eliminates the issue of multiple systems requiring manual input, meaning fewer errors and less fatigue. The result is staff being able to collaborate better with higher visibility across teams, leading to increased efficiency that benefits everyone involved – faster processes for better patient care at a fraction of the cost. 

Reaping the Benefits 

Organizations not only benefit from increased efficiency and productivity but better communication between caregivers will always provide a better result for the patient. The TigerConnect Clinical Communication and Collaboration Platform is actively helping healthcare organizations improve patient outcomes, increase security and eliminate silos, all while streamlining critical workflows and enhancing security via HIPAA-compliant capabilities. This means growing financial savings through improved processes across the board while contributing to the highest level of patient outcomes.  

Interested in learning more about how TigerConnect can boost your bottom line, improve ROI, and enhance clinical communication and collaboration? Watch the on-demand webinar – to see the power of modern communication technology that delivers financial benefits.