Forcura, a healthcare technology company that enables safer patient care transitions and coordination, today released its industry study, “2022: The State of Connectivity in Post-Acute Care.”
The study – which included survey responses from nearly 100 manager or executive-level healthcare leaders who oversee operations, technology and clinical staff or lead technology vendor organizations – examined the sector’s level of technological sophistication and the challenges limiting interoperability within the healthcare ecosystem.
Among the results, nearly 70% of respondents said talent development and training is their most important investment in the next five years. Interoperability and digital health technology ranked as the second-highest priority, with 51% and 45% of providers, respectively, planning to invest in this technology in the next 12 months. The study also found that more than 70% of post-acute organizations now use data analytics to set benchmarks and make clinical decisions.
Despite the higher focus on digital transformation, room for more interoperability still exists. More than 50% of study respondents stated they do not think their EHR connectivity and data accessibility levels influence the amount of acute care discharge referrals they receive. Further, 30% of providers still store data in proprietary or siloed systems, limiting industry-wide connectivity. Both statistics indicate how post-acute providers are still at a technical disadvantage as value-based care relationships will demand greater operational efficiencies and data access to lower costs and improve patient care transitions.
“The post-acute care sector is beginning to pivot toward value-based care, so the need for better connectivity among staff, patients and external partners is greater than ever,” said Bruce Greenstein, executive vice president and chief strategy and innovation officer of LHC Group, Inc. “Investing in technology – regardless of operation size – won’t just yield short-term operational gains, it should also help position these providers as the market’s provider of choice.”
To help narrow this gap, healthcare leaders will come together at the 2022 Forcura CONNECT Summit to break down and expand upon study findings through topics such as leveraging AI to retain and attract employees, integrating predictive analytics into post-acute care and examining new approaches for technology, staffing and training for in-home caregivers. The summit takes place virtually Jan. 18-20, 2022 and is no cost to attendees.
“Providers who leverage tech-based interoperable systems are better equipped to offset staffing shortages, strengthen referral partnerships and optimize their financial positions post-pandemic,” said Annie Erstling, chief strategy officer of Forcura. “For example, providers who integrated their EHRs with Forcura during COVID-19 on average saw physician orders signed and returned in under a week. Creating efficiencies like these, which ultimately drive optimal patient outcomes, are at the forefront of our mission, as we aim to create better connections across the continuum of care.”
To download the full study, visit https://www.forcura.com/the-state-of-connectivity-in-post-acute-care.
About Forcura
Forcura, a leading healthcare technology company headquartered in Jacksonville, Florida, facilitates continuity of care via technology, analytics and a deep commitment to enabling better patient care. The Forcura suite of tools is powered by Forcura Connect, a proprietary framework for standardizing interoperability and integration among post-acute healthcare organizations, physicians, electronic health records (EHRs) and other supporting technology vendors. Through our technology and analytics solutions, we are a step closer every day to elevating the opportunities of post-acute care. The company has been recognized in 2021 as the Best Healthcare Technology Solution by the SIIA, ranked for the fifth consecutive year on the Inc. 5000 and is a top-20 ranked Fortune Best Small & Medium Workplaces™. For more information visit www.forcura.com, call 800-378-0596 or follow Forcura on LinkedIn.
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