Overcoming the Fear of New Home Healthcare Technology

Unless you’re the kind of person who stays immersed in the latest gadgets and technological trends, you likely feel that technology is advancing so rapidly that it can become overwhelming and easy to fall behind.

This is no different in home care, as many are intimidated by technology, with fear usually being the driving force behind the resistance to change.

Many home care providers continue to adopt advanced technology systems, but some major fears for healthcare executives are the, “fear of the unknown, fear of wasting money, fear of losing productivity, and – in the case of healthcare providers – fear of making a life-threatening mistake” states Laura Speek, a learning and development specialist at The Breakaway Group.

It is both understandable and natural for home care providers to be resistant to the adoption of new technologies, but to avoid this change is just delaying the inevitable.

Technological innovation is the answer to increased efficiencies and improved patient outcomes, so it’s important to stay current.

Here are a few ways you can reduce the fear of home healthcare technology:

Do Some Research

At first glance, technology often looks complex when observed from the outside, but you need to remember that you are undertaking this search to make your life easier.

If you are finding that your current processes are lengthy and inefficient, consider doing some research online or ask someone who has some experience with new technology and tools in order to find new ways to simplify your workflows.

Instead of letting technology intimidate you, focus on the outcomes and what it can do for you in the long run.

Browse Technology in Person

While it is helpful to read up on relevant technology and related blogs or news, it is really helpful to see and interact with new systems in person.

Request demos of new solutions, get familiar with the latest advancements, and don’t be afraid to ask questions.

This will help to keep you up-to-date with the latest advancements in home care technology, reducing your stress and fear when it comes to adopting health information technology (HIT) systems.

Communicate with Employees

It is a good idea to find out the extent of resistance employees might have to technology and change.

Communication is key for tackling change so consider conducting a survey for all employees to review existing processes and to discover their views and opinions on new and existing HIT systems.

This will set a solid foundation for developing an improvement plan and for implementing a systemic training plan in order to gently overcome opposition.

There might also be some employees who have experience with current technologies and could become very helpful in terms of diminishing the resistance to change.

Agreeing to change is half the battle.

While technology can be overwhelming, there is no question that the future of home care depends on the implementation of advanced electronic systems. According to Seth Godin, one of the world’s leading experts in marketing and innovation, “the safest thing you can do feels risky and the riskiest thing you can do is play it safe.”

Avoiding technology now will only result in larger costs and burdens over time, so take active steps in overcoming the resistance by staying informed and embracing the home care trends.