The Benefits of an Intranet in Modern Healthcare Facilities
In a field where knowledge and protocols change quickly, having the right information at the right time is essential.
While some healthcare settings still use traditional communication methods, there is a noticeable move towards digital solutions like modern intranets built on Microsoft SharePoint. These platforms can serve as a central platform for accessing critical information, streamlining workflows, and enhancing patient care, no matter where healthcare professionals are. With a significant frontline workforce, healthcare organizations must provide instant access to updates. Many organizations prefer to push updates via mobile and Microsoft Teams to enhance engagement. Integrating an intranet within Teams can further streamline communication, ensuring that essential information is readily available to staff.
Factors to Consider when Choosing an Intranet for Your Organization
When choosing an intranet, consider the following factors:
- User Experience: Ensure the interface is intuitive and user-friendly to promote user adoption. One way to improve adoption is to serve the intranet content via familiar interfaces such as MS Teams, if your organization has widespread MS Teams adoption.
- Integration: Check compatibility with existing tools and systems, like Microsoft 365 or other business applications.
- Customization: Look for options to tailor the intranet to your organization’s needs and branding.
- Security: Verify robust security features to protect sensitive data and comply with regulations.
- Scalability: Choose a solution that can grow with your organization.
- Mobile Access: Ensure the intranet is accessible from mobile devices for flexibility.
- Cost: Evaluate the total cost of ownership, including licensing, maintenance, and potential hidden costs.
7 Reasons Why Healthcare Companies Need a Modern Intranet
1. Centralized Knowledge Management
APQC research shows that employees waste 8.2 hours a week searching for or recreating information. A modern intranet can change this by allowing you to create knowledge hubs for different departments, such as pediatrics or cardiology. Each team can store and access relevant information in designated spaces like standard operating procedures (SOPs), patient care guidelines, and even checklists for equipment maintenance. It is also easier to search and retrieve the right information quickly when you add descriptive tags (metadata) to files.
2. Improved Communication
In patient care, every minute counts, making rapid communication essential. Modern intranets help healthcare organizations to quickly share critical information.
Features like targeted announcements, push notifications, and news feeds improve staff communication between departments by ensuring that policy changes, emergency codes, or new treatment protocols reach all staff instantly.
For instance, real-time alerts on updated medication protocols can be communicated via Microsoft Teams notifications, push notifications on mobile devices, or email, depending on the severity of the information.
3. Training, Onboarding and Schedule Management
Using a modern intranet platform that is based on SharePoint can simplify your continuous learning efforts. It lets you store training materials, encourage team discussions, and onboard new employees.
You can also manage schedules, track time-off requests, and get real-time updates. This approach helps simplify communication, reduce paperwork, and keep information secure, making work more efficient and engaging for everyone.
4. Integration with Business Applications
A Harvard Business Review study analyzing the digital work habits of 20 teams in three Fortune 500 companies revealed a pattern: employees switched between applications approximately 1,200 times daily, resulting in a productivity loss of roughly four hours per week.
A modern intranet that is built on SharePoint can integrate well with other Microsoft applications, cutting friction for organizations that already rely on Microsoft products. Healthcare organizations can also integrate other applications for easy access. Some of the most common workflows like employee onboarding and incident reporting can even be automated.
5. Employee Engagement
According to a recent report, 89% of healthcare professionals agree that a direct correlation exists between employee engagement strategies and the quality of patient care.
An intranet allows leadership teams to keep staff informed about hospital initiatives through announcements and leadership talks. It also fosters a sense of community with discussion forums.
Organizations can use surveys and polls on the intranet within Microsoft Teams to gather real-time feedback on employee satisfaction and workplace improvements. By making well-being programs available on the intranet, organizations can support the physical and mental health of professionals and create a connected, supportive work environment.
6. Workflow Automation
A modern intranet can be customized to automate routine tasks and also streamline communication between departments, ensuring that patient updates are shared efficiently and accurately. Features like automated alerts and task reminders can enhance operational efficiency, helping staff stay on top of critical tasks and deadlines.
7. Mobile Accessibility
An intranet app for your healthcare organization can help healthcare professionals stay connected and productive from any location, whether they are moving between hallways or at their desks. This mobile accessibility helps maintain high levels of productivity and responsiveness, ensuring that critical information and communication are always within reach.
About PeopleOne
An intranet app for your healthcare organization is all about elevating patient care by promoting better collaboration and safeguarding the well-being and engagement of your staff. With PeopleOne now on Microsoft Teams, accessing critical documents and information is just a tap away, making communication smoother and more efficient. From centralized knowledge management to mobile accessibility, PeopleOne helps your organization enhance efficiency. Contact us to discover how we can meet your healthcare intranet needs.
