The following is a guest blog post by Matthew Werder, CTO, Hennepin County Medical Center. Thanks to Justin Campbell from Galen Healthcare Solutions for facilitating this guest post for us.
Now twelve months into our secure messaging implementation, and it’s safe to say our transition to a secure-messaging application with the aspiration to eliminate pagers has been quite a journey. Recently, I answered a couple of reference calls on the selection process from some of my healthcare colleagues and determined it was time to share 5 (of many) tips for implementing a secure messaging solution. Like most healthcare technologies, what may appear to be simple isn’t and even with the best of the best implementation plans, project manager, and leadership support – the road to implementing a secure messaging solution contains many challenges.
To start, here are five tips that have left me with scars & memories:
#1 – Define Your Strategy. Are you just adding another technology, enhancing an existing, or just buying into the hype of secure text messaging applications? In his post dated January 26, 2016, Mobility Solutions Consultant, Jason Stanaland from Spok stated, “secure text messaging should be implemented as a workflow solution, and not simply a messaging product.” Before putting ink to paper, ensure that your goals are aligned, providers are supportive, and a measureable outcome has been identified. Just because you can implement a technology doesn’t mean you should.
#2 – Beware of the Pager Culture. In the words of Peter Drucker, “culture eats strategy for lunch,” and the same can be said for the pager culture. This was impressed on me last summer when a physician stopped me in the hallway and had questions about the new text messaging solution we were implementing. She was very excited and encouraged to hear that we were taking communication, mobility, and security seriously. What I wasn’t prepared for was her question, “What is your plan to address the 4, 5, and 9-digit callback needs?”
In many institutions, a pager Morse code exists. Telemediq’s Derek Bolen wrote in December last year that the, “Pager culture’ is real, and extremely persistent, in healthcare.” Judy Mottl, of Fierce Mobile Healthcare, talks about “Why the pager remains a viable and trusted tool for providers.” She wrote that the pager has been a resilient tool and in order for new technologies to replace it, they must overcome the benefits of such a simple mobile device – the pager! Don’t underestimate #PAGERPOWER!
#3 – Text Administration and Etiquette Policy. If your goal is to replace your paging system or add a secure text messaging solution in addition to pagers, your paging and messaging policy will need to be archived and a new text messaging/secure messaging policy will need to be authored. Who authors the policy will be a collaborative effort between the medical staff, legal, IT, nursing, compliance, and operations. Gentle reminders as written by Dana Holmes, Family Lifestyle Expert of the Huffington Post, in her 2013 blog, “A Much-Needed Guide to Text Etiquette”, highlights the necessary rules and guidelines of texting. Many of these are well known, yet good reminders in the adoption of secure text messaging in healthcare.
#4 – Think Beyond Text Messaging. Regardless of your strategy, text messaging alone will provide minimal value. Organizations implementing secure text-messaging solutions should think beyond the implementation and think in terms of “Connection Point” or “Communications Hub” opportunities with the patient/customer in mind. On August 19, 2015, Brad Brooks, TigerText Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer, stated that secure texting not only fosters a collaborative environment, but it also enables users to quickly communicate and coordinate with other colleagues while eradicating the need for multiple devices and tedious communication channels. Unlike emails, secure texting is instantaneous and avoids outside threats or hackers. Secure texting encompasses everything we love about mobile messaging, but with built-in features and tools to help one work faster and more easily with his or her team. Does the vendor have a roadmap to take you where you want? Intersect it with patients, and make for texting amongst patients and provider. Include the patient, how can they take advantage of the texting platform? Turn it into an engagement tool. Drive collaboration and improve the patient experience and family experience.
#5 – Enjoy and Have Fun. I am amazed at times when technologists don’t embrace the adoption of a new technology that could have a significant impact on their organization. The secure text messaging industry is rich and deep right now with countless options and innovative solutions at every corner. You run into unforeseen obstacles and workflows, and despite the promise of a short implementation multiple it by two. We all know that change in healthcare is challenging and exhausting so enjoy the ride!
Of course there are many more. At last count, about 37 additional lessons and tips should be considered when implementing your new secure-messaging solution, so feel free to comment and share your experiences.
About Matthew Werder
Matthew Werder brings over 20 years of healthcare experience in his position as Chief Technology Officer at Hennepin County Medical Center, a 477-bed Level 1 Trauma Center and Academic Medical Center in Minneapolis. In his role, he is responsible for advancing HCMC’s technology vision and strategy to enable the organization to achieve its critical priorities. Currently, Matthew is leading the development of an enterprise telemedicine strategy, migration to a new data center, and leading the execution of the organization’s technology strategy.
Prior to his role as CTO, Matthew was the Director of Supply Chain at HCMC, where over the course of 4 years achieved over $12M in cost savings while transforming the supply chain organization whom received recognition by Supply & Demand Chain Executive as Pros to Know. He also worked as a Supply Chain Manager for Medtronic, Inc. at their Physiological Research Laboratories and in the Global Strategic Sourcing group. Matthew is a certified Master Lean instructor and previously worked as a Lean Consultant with Operational Excellence, Inc.
Matthew holds a Master’s Degree in Health and Human Services Administration from Saint Mary’s University and graduated from Concordia University with a degree in natural science. He has presented and been published on several topics focusing on operational excellence, cost management, technology and the patient experience, and strategic sourcing for services in healthcare.
