Balancing Integration and Cost-Effectiveness in Healthcare Video Conferencing
The healthcare industry has been actively adopting WebRTC (real-time conferencing) since the COVID pandemic hit in 2019. Given technology provides many benefits that make it an attractive option for healthcare: it saves time on the commute to a healthcare facility, gives patients greater access to their providers and care teams, and accelerates communication with them. Indeed, integrating WebRTC can be complicated for some organizations. This article explores some advantages and challenges associated with adopting WebRTC in healthcare and offers tips on navigating them successfully.
Advantages of WebRTC for Healthcare
The trend for WebRTC is growing as more industries utilize tools to promote remote communication. Healthcare organizations are among those that encountered multiple struggles with the global pandemic in 2019. Switching to online doctor’s appointments allowed for reducing the number of in-person visits, therefore, slowing down the COVID spreading.
WebRTC proved to be an efficient tool that provides an opportunity to consult patients via video conferencing to maintain accessibility to quality healthcare and stay connected with a healthcare provider.
So, what is WebRTC, and what advantages does it have to offer?
WebRTC is a real-time communication technology that enables video, voice, and data communication between two or more users. The technology has multiple advantages and here are some major ones to consider in favor of the adoption of WebRTC into a healthcare practice:
# 1 Real-time communication: It is indeed in the name. WebRTC allows for real-time communication between healthcare providers and their patients. This means that doctors and other healthcare service providers can communicate with patients as if they were in the same room, although they can be miles apart. This can be particularly useful in situations where time is of the essence, such as in emergency medical situations, and waiting for an ambulance can take too long.
# 2 Increased accessibility: WebRTC makes it easier for patients, especially in remote or underserved areas, to access healthcare. Patients can connect with healthcare providers remotely, hence saving commute time or avoiding long lines.
# 3 Improved experience: WebRTC improves patient satisfaction – by allowing patients to view their medical records and communicates with their doctors from any device at any time, this technology is a step above traditional methods of communication that often require scheduling an in-person meeting or making phone calls. The latter can be challenging especially for individuals who have limited mobility or hearing impairment.
# 4 Cost-effectiveness: WebRTC can reduce the cost of healthcare by eliminating the need for travel and reducing the need for personal appointments. Patients can receive care without having to pay for transportation, parking, etc.
# 5 Data security: WebRTC provides end-to-end encryption, ensuring that patient data is protected and secure. This is particularly important in healthcare, where patient privacy is of utmost importance.
# 6 Flexibility: WebRTC can be used for a variety of healthcare applications, including telemedicine, remote consultations, and online therapy. It can also be used to share medical images and other data in real time, making it an invaluable tool for healthcare professionals.
Challenges of Integrating WebRTC in Healthcare and How to Navigate them
As with any new technology, some challenges come with adopting WebRTC in an organization. From personal data management regulations to technical capacities of healthcare facilities and providers, all the challenges can be overcome once organizations focus on integrating WebRTC into their operations. Here are a few most common challenges associated with WebRTC as well as solutions to battling them:
Compliance with Regulations
Healthcare providers must comply with multiple regulations and laws regarding personal data management, including HIPAA, GDPR, and others. To avoid legal issues, healthcare organizations must ensure that any WebRTC platform they use is compliant with all relevant regulations. This may involve working with vendors that specialize in healthcare technology to ensure that their platforms meet regulatory requirements.
Infrastructure Compatibility
Integrating WebRTC into existing healthcare systems can be difficult especially if the existing infrastructures are complex or outdated. If that is the case, healthcare organizations then need to work with IT professionals or software development service providers to ensure that WebRTC is properly integrated into their existing systems. This may involve custom software development work or the implementation of middleware to connect different systems.
Moreover, WebRTC is completely dependent on the internet connection. Hospitals and clinics may have limited bandwidth, particularly in remote or underserved areas. To navigate this challenge, healthcare organizations should conduct network assessments to ensure that their networks can support WebRTC. They may also need to work with internet service providers to upgrade their connectivity quality.
Staff Training
Ensuring that healthcare staff are properly and regularly trained to use the technology is another challenge of WebRTC adoption. Healthcare providers are sometimes resistant to modern technology, particularly if they are not familiar with WebRTC or other tools. To overcome this challenge, healthcare organizations should provide comprehensive training to all users: physicians, nurses, and other staff. This may involve in-person training sessions, online tutorials, etc.
Hesitant Patients
Finally, integrating WebRTC in healthcare may be challenging if patients are not comfortable with using the technology. Patients may be hesitant to use WebRTC for remote consultations or other healthcare services, especially if they are not familiar with the technology or if they worry about the privacy and security of their personal data. To navigate this challenge, healthcare organizations should educate patients about the benefits of WebRTC and provide support to help patients use the technology. This may include providing online resources, telephone support, or other forms of assistance.
Conclusion
Healthcare organizations face many challenges when it comes to adopting recent technology. Integrating WebRTC into healthcare operations is no exception, but it can be a success if organizations utilize the right approach. WebRTC offers several opportunities for improving the quality of care through better communication between providers and patients. Among many advantages, video chat allows patients who somehow cannot travel in person for appointments or follow-up visits with their doctors without having to make multiple trips out into public spaces. Especially, when we talk about cases where the in-person meeting is not necessary.
