Human Resources Strategies for Healthcare Technology Adoption

This report examines the significant impact of technology on the healthcare industry, emphasizing its role in enhancing information sharing, improving treatments, and increasing efficiency. It highlights the use of technologies such as GPS patches, micro-sensors, and RFID in various operational areas, including medical information provision, treatment improvements, and patient care. The report also focuses on the critical role of human resources in facilitating employees' transition from manual-based systems to technology-driven operations. It suggests strategies such as investing in training, allowing experimentation, providing constructive feedback, improving teamwork, sponsoring seminars, and offering follow-up training to ensure employees develop the necessary skills to adapt to technological changes. The report concludes that successful technology integration requires proactive human resource management to improve employee skills and capabilities, ultimately leading to better patient outcomes and operational efficiency.

Running head: HEALTHCARE AND HUMAN RESOURCES 1
HEALTHCARE AND HUMAN RESOURCES
Name of Student
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HEALTHCARE AND HUMAN RESOURCES
The use of technology in the healthcare industry has gained a lot of prominence in the
recent past. Experts opine that the application of technology is likely to disrupt the healthcare
industry. Of major importance is the application of technology to enhance information sharing
between doctors and patients. Besides, technology in the healthcare sector is also used in
emergencies for example in high-risk surgery situations. Breakthroughs in communication,
treatments, research and information gathering brought about by information technology in the
healthcare industry have provided caregivers new ways and tools of practicing medicine. Some
of the most commonly used healthcare technologies include GPS patches, Micro-sensors, and
RFID technology. Human resources have a major role in helping employees to keep up with the
changes in technology.
Healthcare technology is used in a wide range of operational area. One of the main areas
where technology is used is in providing medical information. According to a survey carried out
in 2009 established that about 24 million Americans use the internet as a source of medical
information (Krueger, 2010). In addition, there has been increasing usage of social media sites
by healthcare facilities to perform community outreach, create public awareness, answer public
questions on organizational practices and create contact with patients. Through the use of social
media, these facilities can reach wider audiences.
Similarly, technology is also used to improve treatment and reduce suffering. It has
provided new treatments, medicines, and machines that improve patient outcomes and save lives.
On the same note, healthcare technology has also been used to increase efficiency and improve
patient care. For example, doctors and nurses use technological devices to record patient
information and ascertain if they are administering the correct treatment. Other main uses include

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placing medical orders, recording of vital signs lab test results electronically. Also, technology is
also used to predict medical trends accurately. This is made possible through analysis of online
information sought by users on search engines such as Google. Finally, technology has also
made it reach medical practitioners in addition to improving their competencies. For example,
they can be consulted by colleagues or patients through the use of facilities such as conference
facilities, videos, texts, and emails. Additionally, they can access a lot of medical textbooks
through the use of their smartphones (Krueger, 2010). It is evident that the use of technologies
has revolutionized the industry
The successful transition of employees from manual-based systems to the use of
technologies in daily operations however requires the acquisition required skills. Human
resources can help employees develop the necessary skills to keep up with technological changes
through several strategies.
Investing in training
Training is the first step towards a successful digital transition. While investing in
technology, there is a need to ensure that employees understand the need for digital change. In
addition, there is also a need to ensure that they understand how technology will impact their
operations. Investment in training is one of the strategies that human resources can use to achieve
this. Through training, employees can develop the necessary skills to keep up with fast-changing
technologies and dynamic work environments. The implementation of a training program is
therefore important for the acquisition of skills required to deal with new technologies (Newman,
2017).
Allowing experimentation

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The use of new technologies requires employees to move out of their comfort zones.
While this transition might be difficult especially where there are frequent technological
changes, allowing experimentation can be an effective strategy for keeping up with technologies.
Experimentation means allowing employees to try new technologies without the fear of possible
mistakes, and helping them when they do need help. Through experimentation, employees may
find out new and more efficient ways of working with new technologies which not only
improves their skills but also enhances their productivity.
Providing feedback
Constructive feedback is an effective way of helping employees to grow new skills. The
first step in helping an employee to improve their skills is first helping them to help them point
out their areas of inefficiency (Elarabi & Johari, 2014). Feedback involves consulting employees
at an individual level and letting them know the areas where they are excelling and where they
need to improve. Such consultations also help employers to ask their employees the kind of help
that they need to improve (Hicks, 2019). This is important because some employees might be I
need for a little room for freedom or guidance to operate new technologies.
Improving teamwork
Teamwork can have a significant impact on individual employees. Greatest teams are
known to be those that build each other. In addition, teams bring on board different individuals
with diverse skills, knowledge, and understanding abilities (Pynes & Lombardi, 2011). By
improving the team; therefore, human resources provide a new learning platform for emotes to
acquire new skills from each other.
Sponsoring employees to attend seminars and workshops

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Seminars and workshops can be an effective source of information and new skills for
employees. For example, technology-oriented seminars may offer new perspectives and address
common problems that employees may face on a regulars basis (Akdere, 2009). In addition, they
also provide a platform for sharing how common problems can be handled. Seminars and
workshops can, therefore, be used to improve employee’s skills
Follow up a technology training
Although prior employee training before the implementation of new technology is
important, it should not end here. Ongoing technology training plays a role in the identification
of existing adoption issues as well as the reasons for their existence. Technology training
refreshers can, therefore, help to keep up with ongoing changes in technology Forbes (Human
Resources Council, 2019).
In conclusion, the use of technologies in the health care industries has brought about
efficiency in operations and improved outcomes for patients. HealthCare technology is used in
communication, provision of medical information, pain reduction and treatment improvement.
However, the evolution of healthcare technologies needs to be met with a similar preparedness
among the human resource team. Human resources play a major role in improving the skills and
capabilities of employees to deal with new technologies. They can do this through initial
training, follow-up training, supporting workshops and seminars, improving teamwork allowing
experimentation and offering feedback to employees.

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References
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performance: evidence from the US healthcare industry. The International Journal of Human
Resource Management, 20(9), 1945-1964.
Elarabi, H. M., & Johari, F. (2014). The impact of human resources management on healthcare
quality. Asian journal of management sciences & education, 3(1), 13-22.
Forbes Human Resources Council. (2019). Council Post: Nine Ways To Help Employees Adapt To New
Company Technology. Retrieved from
https://www.forbes.com/sites/forbeshumanresourcescouncil/2018/03/01/nine-ways-to-help-
employees-adapt-to-new-company-technology/#7552e42952dd
Hicks, A. (2019). Top 10 Ways to Improve Employee Efficiency. Retrieved from
https://www.zenefits.com/blog/top-10-ways-to-improve-employee-efficiency/
Krueger, A. (2010). 6 Ways Technology Is Improving Healthcare. Retrieved from
https://www.businessinsider.com/6-ways-technology-is-improving-healthcare-2010-12?IR=T
Newman, D. (2017). Helping Your Employees Adapt to Digital Transformation - TalentCulture.
Retrieved from https://talentculture.com/helping-your-employees-adapt-to-digital-
transformation/
Pynes, J., & Lombardi, D. N. (2011). Human resources management for health care organizations: A
strategic approach. San Francisco, Calif: Jossey-Bass.