Introduction
Before the pandemic, new healthcare technologies such as telehealth and clinical mobile devices were already making an impact worldwide.
However, now as we continue to move through unprecedented demands, the push for innovation has been superseded by the need for agile practicality. Healthcare facilities across the nation are under immense pressure to deliver superior patient care while navigating staffing shortages, rising cybersecurity threats, and an ever-growing patient load. The intersection of these challenges has created a critical need for mobile healthcare solutions that are not only innovative but also practical and easy to deploy.
Results shared at the Becker's 5th Annual Health IT + Revenue Cycle Conference indicate that healthcare facilities both big and small are still struggling with caregiver engagement, recruiting, cybersecurity, and patient safety. As more COVID-19 cases are added to pre-existing treatment plans, healthcare professionals are overwhelmed daily with patients, and stress can lead to costly accidents and mix-ups. Turnover rates in healthcare have been steadily increasing since 2016, reaching over 20% in 2020, with CNAs experiencing rates as high as 40% in nursing homes. More than 93% of healthcare facilities have experienced a data breach within the last four years, compromising both billing and patient information.
Yesterday's challenges have become today's major obstacles in providing superior patient care. While there are many technological solutions currently attempting to solve these issues, Derive Technologies recommends evaluating your clinical mobile devices with the following questions to pinpoint optimization opportunities. Enhanced mobility is no longer a luxury—it is a necessity for modern healthcare organizations that want to remain competitive, compliant, and centered on patient outcomes.
Research presented in Zebra's 2022 Hospital Vision Study highlights the increased demand caregivers currently face to adopt mobile devices. From nurses to pharmacists, an estimated 40% or more of the hospital staff will adopt mobile devices to help prevent miscommunication, which currently accounts for at least 70% of medical errors. This statistic alone illustrates why usability must be at the forefront of any healthcare mobility strategy.
To accommodate less-experienced staff members and reduce the learning curve that often contributes to high turnover rates, we recommend devices with familiar operating systems like Android, touchscreen interfaces to reduce manual data entry, and dependable training and technical support services. When caregivers can intuitively navigate their tools, they spend less time troubleshooting and more time focusing on what matters most—patient care. Complicated technologies and workflows may further contribute to turnover rates as employees struggle to adapt to new procedures, so simplicity is key.
As more devices are deployed across healthcare facilities, IT departments also need a simpler way to manage them at scale. Applications such as Zebra's PowerPrecision+ and Device Tracker assist teams in tracking battery life and device performance to safeguard uptime. Derive Technologies offers solutions that empower IT teams to maintain full visibility over their device fleets, ensuring that every clinical mobile device is operational, up to date, and ready to support frontline caregivers when they need it most.
<h2><strong>Can You Store Sensitive Data While Complying with HIPAA Laws?</strong></h2>
Cybersecurity remains one of the most pressing challenges in modern healthcare. With more than 93% of healthcare facilities having experienced a data breach within the last four years, compromising both billing and patient information, the stakes have never been higher. As digitization continues to reframe multiple industries, healthcare facilities tend to be more skeptical about adopting new technologies. However, paper-based systems and manual data entry also leave room for costly errors, creating a paradox that only secure, modernized devices can resolve.
Instead of having to transpose written notes onto a desktop—a process rife with opportunities for human error and data exposure—modernized clinical devices running on updated operating systems can capture, store, share, and protect patient information seamlessly. For example, the new TC52x-HC on Zebra's fortified Android-OS protects data with government-grade encryption, two-factor authentication, and 90-day security patches. These layered security measures ensure that sensitive patient data remains protected at every touchpoint, helping your organization maintain full HIPAA compliance.
By investing in devices that prioritize data security from the ground up, healthcare organizations can confidently accelerate their digital transformation without sacrificing patient trust or regulatory compliance. Derive Technologies recommends evaluating your current device ecosystem to identify vulnerabilities and implement fortified mobility solutions that protect your most critical asset—patient data. The right clinical device strategy turns cybersecurity from a liability into a competitive advantage.
In the fast-paced environment of modern healthcare, caregivers cannot afford to juggle multiple devices as they move between patients, departments, and treatment plans. To minimize the need of carrying multiple devices around the hospital, modernized devices can perform several tasks such as data capture and EHR reporting. This prevents additional devices from being lost and increasing operation costs, while also reducing the cognitive burden on already overwhelmed healthcare professionals.
Workflow consolidation through enhanced mobility directly addresses the challenge of caregiver engagement. When a single device can handle barcode scanning, medication verification, patient identification, and electronic health record updates, caregivers can focus their energy on delivering quality care rather than managing technology. This streamlined approach also supports better recruiting and retention outcomes, as new hires can be onboarded faster with fewer devices and simpler processes to learn.
If you answered "no" to any of the questions raised throughout this discussion, it may be time to consider modernizing your digital devices. As a Zebra Business Partner, Derive Technologies offers several future-forward mobility solutions designed to survive the high demands of healthcare. All of these challenges—caregiver engagement, recruiting, cybersecurity, and patient safety—ultimately converge on the quality of the tools your teams use every day. Investing in the right mobility platform is investing in the future of your healthcare organization.
The Takeaway for IT Buyers
The challenges facing modern healthcare—from caregiver engagement and soaring turnover rates to cybersecurity threats and patient safety concerns—demand a strategic, technology-driven response. Enhanced mobility solutions offer a clear path forward, empowering healthcare organizations to equip their teams with devices that are easy to use, easy to manage, secure, and capable of streamlining multiple workflows into a single, efficient platform.
By partnering with a trusted technology advisor, healthcare facilities can move beyond reactive problem-solving and adopt a proactive approach to clinical mobility. Derive Technologies' future-forward mobility solutions are purpose-built for the demanding healthcare environment, ensuring that your organization stays ahead of evolving threats while delivering the highest standard of patient care. From government-grade encryption and HIPAA compliance to intuitive device management and workflow consolidation, every solution is designed with your frontline caregivers in mind.
Derive Is The Value-Add Reseller That Keeps IT Products and Services Flowing To Your Organization In Today's Challenging Conditions. To explore the benefits of our full device portfolio and discover how enhanced mobility can transform your healthcare operations, contact Derive Technologies today for a thorough assessment of your current mobility strategy and a roadmap to optimized clinical care.