Future-proof systems delivering innovative healthcare solutions

The healthcare landscape is constantly changing and innovating. New medicines and treatments are continuously being devised to find better ways to provide care for patients and those in need. With the key role that mobile technology and high-speed connectivity is playing in supporting the healthcare system’s innovation and care aspirations, Optus sees itself as an extension of this pursuit. 

With a shift towards electronic medical records and digital health systems such as telehealth, the industry is in the midst of a major transformation. At the same time, more than 5000 healthcare workers enter the sector each month, a new generation of practitioners for whom mobile and digital technologies have become second-nature.  

The potential for 5G-led mobile devices and technologies such as artificial intelligence, robotics and machine learning to innovate and produce better patient outcomes is immense. Developing the infrastructure to allow this, however, remains an obstacle that many hospitals feel impeded by.

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In 2022, the Queensland Government alone allocated $9.3 billion over six years to build new hospitals, while theNSW Government set aside $1.3 billion to build the Bankstown-Lidcombe Hospital. Central to ensuring the greatest return on these significant investments, in terms of efficiency and ability to best treat patients, is an understanding of mobile technology’s central role in healthcare delivery going forward.  

5G networks are allowing ordinary, ubiquitous mobile devices to work as health monitors and health records, with platforms such as Cerner digitising critical processes. This consolidates the number of costly devices needed, putting more powerful tools in the hands of healthcare workers for less cost.  

In ‘greenfield’ scenarios, where a new hospital development serves as a clean slate, the strategic opportunity arises to recognise that the future of healthcare technology is mobile-first. Infrastructure needs to be developed in accordance with this vision, where the hospital and the network are intertwined, mobile technology working seamlessly alongside medical devices and treatments. 

Where new hospitals tend to be built or significantly renovated on roughly 60-year cycles, though, adaptability and future-proofing is a key concern for new designs. So to is the understanding of lifecycle management and investment to provide the most cots-effective model both now and into the future 

This is where mobile connectivity has the advantage: as technology continues to advance, mobile and IoT devices will continue to become more powerful and more capable. Building a network that can accommodate a vast system of smart devices is key to ensuring that as the hospital grows and patients’ needs evolve, so too can the technology’s ability to meet them.  

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In the case of existing structures, or ‘brownfield’ scenarios, assessing the potential for adaptation is of high importance. That question of whether there is space within existing workflow systems for new processes and technologies should be constantly considered.  

According to reports from Hospital and Healthcare, 66% of Australian healthcare workers found that outdated technology systems wasted valuable time that could otherwise be spent caring for patients.  AI and mobile technologies have a vast potential to improve efficiency in Australia’s hospital system, and the cost of not embracing these technologies will only continue to grow over time.  

Standing in the way of an updated tech system is often the money needed to invest. With many public hospitals citing a lack of Medicare funding as a major pressure point, they can tend to feel reluctant to invest in technology overhauls.  

With a shortage of around 211,430 full time workers anticipated in the Australian healthcare sector by 2050, investing in more capable and efficient systems is required as soon as possible. The pace of technology’s evolution may make implementing systems and technologies with long term benefits seem unachievable, but smart investments lay the groundwork for modular systems that can be gradually tweaked, often over cycles as long as ten years. 

In an industry known for often intricate workflows and procedures, choosing a system that will assist rather than impede can seem complex. For that reason, beginning with a roadmap of easy-to-execute changes geared at improving back-end systems can be extremely helpful. Often, this is where Optus will begin when helping hospitals to implement new systems.  

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As these new systems are being integrated, though, they often face another blockage: resistance to change. While this is applicable to most industries in which advancements in technology bring new workflows that challenge the established wisdom, healthcare has the added complexity of being a vital, life-saving service.  

Healthcare workers’ first priority is, and always should be, treating and caring for patients. As such, learning new software platforms can seem like an impediment to their work. Prioritising digital literacy can be a delicate balancing act as new systems are brought in, but initial disruptions are a necessary sacrifice to achieve greater efficiency moving forward.  

Ultimately, though, as the future of the healthcare workforce trends increasingly towards digital natives, there is greater risk in leaving the outdated, inefficient systems in place. As well as limiting workers’ abilities to care for patients, workplaces or industries with a reputation as technological laggards can struggle to attract and retain staff. In an industry where 58% of GPs report managing fatigue and burnout as a top challenge, technology needs to reduce, not increase, workloads. 

Integrating advanced and emerging technologies into healthcare infrastructure is not a mere trend, it is a critical imperative. Technology’s role in the Australian healthcare system is due for a much-needed update, and the only way to avoid being left behind is to start now. Whether establishing greenfield developments for future success with mobile networks or adapting brownfield systems to remove inefficiencies, the focus remains on strategic technology powering patient-centric care.

Further information

If you would like to continue this conversation further, please reach out to your Optus Account Manager or request a call back below.