Benefits of using digital collaboration and task support
Findings from three primary care providers using DNV Imatis
The healthcare system is facing major challenges with an aging population and increasing demand for healthcare and social services. To meet these challenges, several municipalities have implemented digital solutions that streamline work processes and improve collaboration. SmartCareLab has conducted a survey showing that the use of DNV Imatis in three Norwegian municipalities has resulted in significant time savings, cost reductions, improved patient safety, and enhanced knowledge sharing.
When minutes turn into hours saved for care
One of the most prominent benefits is the reduced time and costs. DNV Imatis has enabled employees to coordinate tasks more efficiently, resulting in significant time savings.
For example, a care home in the municipality of Farsund has saved 64 minutes per day, equivalent to 390 hours and 144,300 NOK per year. This time can now be used for direct patient contact and other important tasks. Significant time has also been saved in other units, especially in the allocation offices.
An employee at an allocation office estimates a 30% time saving after the start of DNV Imatis.
An employee at the allocation office in Øvre Eiker estimates a 30% time saving after the implementation of DNV Imatis. The savings are a consequence of the solution eliminating much manual paperwork and freeing up time previously spent on printing and manual archiving. Another example is a care home reporting that they have reduced the time for shift handovers from 30 minutes to 10 minutes. This saves each employee 20 minutes that can be used for other tasks.
Digital collaboration and task support improve patient safety
The report also shows that DNV Imatis has improved patient safety by increasing the availability and visibility of patient information. Digital checklists and real-time updates have reduced the risk of tasks not being completed. It has made it easier to follow up on patients across departments.
For example, it has led to better compliance with risk screening for falls, pressure sores, and nutrition. Before the implementation of the solution, these tasks could be forgotten. Through visibility in the DNV Imatis digital interactive whiteboard, participants report that this is carried out every time a new patient arrives. This has led to more seamless and safer patient pathways.
"A specific improvement is risk screening for falls, pressure sores, and nutrition – something we previously did not work systematically with, but which we now do because it is so visible on the board. There has been a huge improvement, both in the screening itself and in making it visible in the action plan that actions have actually been implemented."
Wallboard meetings as a driver for professional growth and quality in municipal health services
Several of the departments have made stand-up meetings a regular part of the workday after the introduction of the DNV Imatis solution. In addition to contributing to essential information sharing, this has proven to be an important arena for professional growth and knowledge sharing. Employees have the opportunity to discuss and prioritise tasks. This has led to better quality in patient care and increased professional understanding among the employees. In some cases, more time is even spent on stand-up meetings than before because professional discussions and learning moments arise. The time is prioritised as a measure to increase quality in the work.
Each employee saves 20 minutes per day during shift handovers that can be used for other tasks.
Quick implementation with solutions designed for healthcare professionals
Another important factor highlighted in the report is the user-friendliness of DNV Imatis. Employees in the three municipalities report that they have used few resources for training, and the employees report that it is easy and intuitive to use the solution. The system administrator and specialist consultant in one of the municipalities exemplifies this well when she talks about how employees during a transition period wanted to keep the notebook used to share important information and messages. Already after two days with DNV Imatis, they fully transitioned to the new work method.
Overall, the employees have received the solution well. 10 out of 11 employees who participated in the survey state that they would recommend the solution to other municipalities – several have already done so.
90% recommend the solution to other municipalities.
About Smart Care Lab:
Norway Health Tech, through Smart Care Lab, is an international test center and Living Lab for welfare and health technologies. They act as a neutral third party, gathering insights from end-users and ensuring that new products and digital solutions are tested and adapted to meet the needs of the healthcare services.
Link: Smart Care Lab – NSCC >