Why Scalability Should Be Your Priority in Developing Digital Health Solutions
In today's rapidly evolving healthcare landscape, scalability has emerged as a crucial factor in ensuring efficient and effective delivery of care. But why is scalability so important? What barriers do we face in scaling digital solutions? And how can we overcome those barriers while improving the quality of care?
Why are scalable solutions so necessary in healthcare?
In healthcare, patient populations are measured on the scale of millions of people. The rise in these patient populations combined with aging demographics and the pressure to use ever-evolving medical technologies significantly burden healthcare systems. The simple truth is, that there are not enough doctors and healthcare staff to handle these growing challenges.
So, what are healthcare systems to do? They must rely on highly scalable solutions to maximize resources without compromising quality or accessibility. Scalability enables healthcare providers to expand services, adjust resources, and adapt to changing circumstances.
If scalability is so important, why is it so difficult to achieve?
While scalability is desirable, several barriers hinder its implementation in healthcare.
Legacy Systems
If you are in the digital health world you have experienced the challenges of talking with the slow-moving infrastructure behind health systems. Outdated technology infrastructure and disparate systems make it difficult to integrate new solutions seamlessly. Health systems cannot take risks with their patient data and training staff on new systems is expensive. These barriers can inhibit features or make moving information tricky but working with health systems during development and after implementation is a must!
Resource Constraints
Limited financial resources, workforce shortages, and infrastructure limitations pose significant barriers to scaling healthcare services. Most health systems have a shortage of staff needed to provide care. This results in asking the already-overburdened personnel to spend precious time installing and training to use new digital tools.
Data Privacy and Security
The need to safeguard patient information and comply with privacy regulations can impede the scalability of digital solutions. Health systems are rightfully skeptical of new software that might want to access, interact with, influence, or otherwise impact their data. In addition to the need to prevent vulnerabilities, health systems are also in a position where they must maintain the trust of their patient population by not selling or allowing access to their health data without consent.
Interoperability Issues
Lack of interoperability between different healthcare systems and data standards inhibits the seamless exchange of information, which then hinders scalability efforts. Bridging the gap between different clinics, doctors or even departments can be challenging. Be aware and try to avoid the trap of building something too bespoke, thus killing scalability.
Okay. So, if it is so important and so difficult, how do we develop with scalability in mind?
The following strategies can be adopted to overcome the challenges associated with scalability. I have emphasized digital health solutions because they are uniquely advantaged for scalability – having the ability to deliver virtually unlimited units of care with minimal variable costs. Digital health is the next step in automating and scaling healthcare in a variety of domains from behavioral health (administering substance use assessments with EHR-integrated results) to precision oncology (using AI solutions to identify tumors in radiographs).
Embrace Interoperability
Establishing data standards and promoting interoperability across healthcare systems facilitate the seamless exchange of information, supporting scalability efforts.
The good news is that new standards are here to help! The FHIR framework is a major step in bringing healthcare together. Digital solutions should push the latest in these trends to not only talk with EHRs and health systems but also with one another.
More good news – Cloud computing is becoming more common in the health space and allows for exceptional access to digital solutions in ways that can be done without heavy lifts from health staff.
Leverage Telehealth and Remote Monitoring
Embracing telehealth and remote monitoring technologies can extend care beyond traditional settings, reaching patients in remote areas and reducing the burden on healthcare professionals.
Meeting patients where they are is a boon to health systems that may not need to build more clinic space to serve more patients. Instead, they can focus on staff and equipment needs.
Foster Collaboration and Partnerships
Collaborative initiatives between healthcare organizations, technology providers, and policymakers can drive innovation, pool resources, and accelerate scalability.
Much like cable TV (and now streaming services), countless smaller health solutions will need to form meaningful partnerships to offer various benefits in “one simple solution”. Building our solutions to work together in digital health is key not just for our success, but our survival.
It goes without saying but… Make It Easier!
People will only change their behavior if the solution you want people to adopt is easier and more beneficial (but mostly easier) than what is currently used.
Better yet, have your solution happen without people realizing it was even implemented, like how Apple Maps pre-routes users to avoid traffic based on their routine. Do note, that this will not always be possible in healthcare because of the need for informed consent, but ease of use is important all the same.
Another important factor in ensuring ease is fully understanding the user’s current workflow. Any new digital tool should, at its core, eliminate or automate administrative tasks, streamline documentation processes, and/or reduce paperwork.
Digital health solutions should be developed to provide the greatest value in healthcare – and in today’s industry, that means it must have a large-scale impact. Developing scalable solutions that accomplish this is possible by focusing on interoperability, remote services, robust partnerships, and ease of use. If you want to empower health systems, doctors, and staff to provide exceptional care, then scalability with intentional design must be the priority.
