Workflow management is a critical and core responsibility among decision-makers in virtually every organization, and one that can be dramatically improved through the use of more advanced technologies such as automation software. When workflows are moving along in a consistent, unified and reliable fashion, the sky is the limit for improvements to the overall performance, efficiency and productivity of a given business, while obstacles standing in the way of smooth processes can quickly hinder financial results each year.
Many companies and public sector agencies have started to deploy workflow automation software to not only boost efficiency of management and reporting, but also increase the accuracy of each responsibility contained therein. Some of the industries that have the most complex workflows have been among the first to deploy these new solutions, setting the stage for other types of organizations to follow suit.
Study goes into effect
Health Data Management recently reported that the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality has funded a new research exercise to evaluate workflow management in the medical sector with a specific focus on electronic health records. As a reminder, the United States government began demanding that all health care providers begin to use EHR systems a few years back, while the Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health Act mandates they achieve meaningful use within a certain period of time.
"This study promises to bridge science into practice and to influence policy based on the insights drawn from the investigation into clinician work activities," Vimla Patel, senior research scientist and director of the New York Academy of Medicine's Center for Cognitive Studies in Medicine and Public Health, affirmed. "Additionally, given that emergency departments are particularly challenging environments for measuring the impact of MU criteria implementations, we believe that our study will provide a benchmark for further extension into other ambulatory care settings."
As a note, the researchers are looking to identify and reconcile data entry deficiencies, poor usability and a lack of sound workflows in the clinical arena.
Lessons for other firms
The medical sector, as well as several others including manufacturing and utilities, are often excellent sources of use and case studies for workflow management automation software. Organizations in virtually every sector can benefit from taking lessons whenever possible from those firms that have already reached more effective workflow management performance through the use of automation software.
