Throughout 2020, challenges have arisen for all industries. Whether you’re in retail, manufacturing, or hospitality, the way you interact with the people you serve has undoubtedly changed. To survive in this transformative landscape, companies need access to more immersive collaboration and communication opportunities.
ALE, one of the market leaders in innovative telecommunications solutions, supports organisations from various sectors in this pursuit of better interactions. One of the environments benefiting most from ALE’s input is the healthcare landscape.
We caught up with Healthcare Vertical Solution Manager, Patrick Hourtoulle, to learn more about the innovative steps that ALE is taking to support healthcare providers.
What Kind of Challenges is Healthcare Facing Now?
[caption id="attachment_20853" align="alignright" width="150"]
Patrick Hourtoulle[/caption]
Healthcare is just one of the many industries facing excessive pressure in the current climate, but it’s also one of the most important. The only way for the world to overcome the overwhelming impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, is for healthcare teams to have the tools they need to work more effectively together. Although outbreaks began to slow earlier in the year, a return to work, and a re-opening of the economy in various locations has prompted a resurgence in cases.
Patrick told us that healthcare is evolving rapidly in an environment where standard interactions between patients and professionals are no longer possible.
“People can’t just visit the hospital when they need help. Doctors can’t visit a patient. There needs to be an alternative way to not just host appointments and offer care, but also support things like patient triage and aftercare”
Hourtoulle went on to say that before COVID-19 hit healthcare groups were already requesting new tools to help triage patients, like intelligent routing and call management. Now that we’re in this pandemic-defined era, the need for new solutions is greater than ever.
“Healthcare providers need to continue serving the patients that need them most, while simultaneously protecting people, staff, and doctors through social distancing protocols. People can’t just sit in waiting rooms anymore, the question of how to serve patients in this new space starts with triage and covers everything through to appointment follow-ups.”
How Is the Healthcare Sector Responding to These Challenges?
I asked Patrick how teams in healthcare are responding to the latest challenges, and he noted that many are struggling to find the right solutions. Some facilities are asking patients to check-in via phone in a parking lot before they enter a waiting room. Others are using advanced routing methods to ensure that too many patients aren’t in the same space at the same time.
The use of telemedicine is dramatically increasing. Now around 76% of patients say they’re likely to use telemedicine in the future. However, there are a lot of challenges to overcome before alternative forms of healthcare are as reliable as they should be. Groups need to figure out how to maintain access to strong connections in areas all around the country. Teams in the healthcare landscape need a simple and convenient environment that anyone can use.
As an example, Hourtoulle mentioned the Servicio Cántabro de Salud. The group is responsible for delivering public health to the Cantabria community in Spain. Deploying the ALE has helped this group to overcome many of the common issues with digital solutions for healthcare.
