Workflow strategy has a place in every type of business and nowhere is it more important than in the constantly evolving world of medicine. In an interview on the “Speaking of Wounds” podcast, Net Health’s Cathy Thomas Hess details just how crucial strategic workflow management is to the success of any wound care business, and how approaching each aspect of the process with the question, “Why?” can determine whether the highest priority results are achieved.
A Workflow for Every Wound Care Business
In speaking about the initial stages of establishing what works, Hess emphasizes that every business is unique, and requires a workflow tailored to its individual needs. While acknowledging that this is a lot of work, she stresses that the payoff is tremendous.
Hess identifies the four workflows in wound care with the acronym CORE. They are:
- Clinical
- Operational
- Regulatory
- Economical
By operating with these four categories in mind, a facility establishes a process that pulls documentation, staff efficiency, productivity and payment together. “The goal is to create a standardized and streamlined process while maximizing efficiencies, as well as reimbursement,” she says.
The Power of ‘Why?’
To determine the correct workflow for each Net Health client, Hess asks what she feels is the most important question: What is the “why” behind each of the CORE processes in a business? This simple word, she says, “has a powerful domino effect.”
The word “why” may be small, but incorporating it can cause businesses to hit the reset button on their workflow management systems to improve CORE efficiencies.
This is where Hess’s expertise and guidance are most valuable. Understanding that all areas of a wound care business are interdependent, she discusses the need for every staff member – clinical and operational – to be part of the overall goal of achieving the best outcomes for patients. “Clinical staff and providers,” she says, “are at the heart of workflow. Everyone’s role matters.”
Wound Care Telehealth Brings Challenges and Solutions
With so much recent change in the way clinicians and staff interact with patients, updating a business’ current workflow can be a daunting task, but at the same time, it is essential. Audits of current practices can prove extremely valuable, especially now with the dramatic rise of telemedicine. Incorporating the most advanced telehealth technology means that every process involved is streamlined, and documentation is intuitive when a patient’s initial information is taken until the end of treatment. This modernization and other modifications of a workflow process lead to improved departmental processes, outcomes, safety, staff knowledge, and patient satisfaction.
The Quest for the Best
With over 35 years of experience in wound care, Hess brings unparalleled knowledge and passion to all aspects of wound care treatment. Throughout the podcast interview, she shares important information on other major topics, including:
- Questions to help manage workflows, increasing clinical and operational productivity
- How a successful workflow bridges information throughout a facility
- Recognizing medical records as “the source of truth”
- Key pieces of advice and explanations that align them to every business
Listen to the full podcast to hear more about how your business can be its best.