Digitalisation in healthcare: More time for people, not systems.

This is an automatic transcript of our podcast. You’ll find the link to the podcast with Peter Plank and Reto Rüegsegger at the very bottom.

A flood of information rather than a lack of it

The biggest communication problem in hospitals is not a lack of information – but rather too much information without clear structure, priority or context. Nursing staff act as the point of contact for patients, doctors, transport services, therapy, technical support and cleaning staff all at once. On top of that, there are countless alarms. Good communication must filter, organise and relieve the burden – not add to it.

In long-term care, everyday life looks different, but the challenge is the same: structure and human warmth are needed in equal measure. A day in a care home is characterised by community, activities and individual care. Digital tools must adapt to this rhythm – not the other way round.

Four requirements for modern communication

Four key requirements can be derived from practical experience in hospitals and care institutions:

Relevance: Not every alarm goes to every person. A cardiac alarm goes to nursing staff and the doctor, a service request to the technical department, a transport request to the transport service. This targeted separation massively reduces stress.

Speed: In hospital, every minute counts. Communication must function reliably – without latency and without interruption.

Transparency: Teams must be able to see who has responded, what is still outstanding and where a backlog is forming.

Integration: Telephones, apps, call systems and alarm systems must not operate as isolated solutions. The flow of information must run via a shared interface.

Practical examples: What modern solutions achieve today

Imagine Mrs Meier following a hip operation: On her patient terminal, she can see her daily schedule, knows when her next medication is due, has her physiotherapy appointment at a glance and, if she’s hungry, can view the menu for the whole week. She feels safe and well-informed – and only calls the nursing staff when it’s really necessary. This takes the pressure off both sides.

Another example: Mr Alvarez in A&E doesn’t speak German. His terminal displays symbols for pain, shortness of breath, thirst and the toilet. The nursing staff can see immediately what he needs. This saves time and reduces misunderstandings – a huge relief for both sides.

New possibilities are also opening up in long-term care: video calls with relatives, care-specific alarm systems and support with medication. An important principle applies here: it is about safety, not surveillance. Residents must not feel monitored, but should know that help is there when they need it.

IoT and localisation: eliminating hidden time-wasters

An ultrasound machine that takes 20 minutes to find, even though it is sitting unused in the next room – this is everyday life in many institutions. Intelligent tracking of medical devices brings immediate, tangible relief. The time saved goes directly towards the care of patients and residents.

In long-term care, IoT and localisation offer additional benefits: they support the freedom of movement of people at risk of falling or those with dementia, without restricting it. Smart solutions enable individual movement profiles – a person is allowed to go about their usual routine, but if there are unusual deviations, the care team is informed.

Data protection: Not a luxury, but a duty

In the healthcare sector, data protection is particularly complex. In hospitals, many professional groups access data, and there is virtually constant time pressure. This requires single sign-on, automatic session timeouts and regular training.

In Switzerland, there is the added complication that each canton has its own data protection regulations. Public institutions are often subject to stricter rules than private ones. It is crucial that patient data is stored in encrypted form in a cloud or data centre in Switzerland or Europe. And crucially: security measures must not disrupt the workflow – because anything that gets in the way will be circumvented.

A look to the future: AI and robotics as a source of relief

Over the next five to ten years, the healthcare sector will undergo significant changes. Care homes will increasingly specialise in dementia, palliative care and complex medical conditions. Technology will play a crucial role in this: transport robots will handle the distribution of food and supplies, lifting robots will assist with mobility, and cleaning robots will take the strain off service staff. Voice assistants will enable residents to operate lights, televisions or blinds independently – or even make an emergency call.

In future, nursing staff will complete their documentation entirely by voice, ideally in their native language. AI assistants will provide support in the background: with medication information, shift planning or ordering supplies. Importantly: AI does not make decisions, but helps with sorting and prioritising. The professionals retain control – but on a clearer, more organised information basis.

What matters now: Three recommendations from practice

1. Check the infrastructure: Many institutions have good ideas, but the Wi-Fi is outdated and the network is unable to accommodate new devices. Digital communication cannot function without a stable infrastructure.
2. Involve nursing staff: They know best what works. If new solutions are not grounded in practical experience, they will not be used. Involvement from the outset ensures that digitalisation is seen as a simplification – not as an additional burden.
3. Reduce the flood of alerts, make data visible, and integrate processes: Don’t simply introduce a new system; improve existing workflows instead. The hospital or care institution of the future isn’t the one with the most technology, but the one with the clearest communication.
    

Digitalisation in healthcare isn’t a technology project – it’s a time project. Creating Time: more time for conversations, for quality, and for care.

Listen to the whole podcast: UMB IT Expert Talk on Spotify (in german)

Find out more: How UMB supports hospitals and care homes with digital communication: umb.ch/solutions/communication-champ