Skip to content
Embracing technology in Adult Health and Social Care Training
The integration of technology in health and social care has been a gradual and noticeable change. As the government outlines long-term goals to safeguard and enhance services, technology emerges as a valuable tool, reshaping processes, improving care quality, and ultimately achieving better outcomes for the public
Technology in health and social care
Technology in health and social care takes many forms, and it helps to streamline administrative work, improve service user care, and provide insights into treatments and medications.
While advancements such as robotics and virtual reality gain a lot of attention, it’s equally important to recognise everyday technology that has subtly impacted the industry. Email, electronic records, and text messages have been used to improve efficiency for a long time. Given the persistent challenges of limited resources and time in the health and social care sector, these digital technologies are extremely beneficial.
The COVID-19 pandemic intensified these issues, emphasising the importance of technology. Technology has been critical for preserving care and connections during periods of isolation, from virtual appointments to contact-tracing apps.
Different aspects of technology in healthcare
Healthcare technology is a range of diverse tools and innovations, each contributing to the transformation of care and the optimisation of healthcare operations. These technological aspects, both emerging and established, collectively shape the modern healthcare landscape.
Telemedicine and Virtual Care
The digital transformation of healthcare is now most clearly demonstrated by telemedicine and virtual care. From remote diagnosis and medication to mental health counselling, telemedicine offers a range of services. People can get qualified advice without having to be physically present because of the convenience of virtual care, which crosses geographic barriers. This technology proved to be pivotal during the COVID-19 pandemic, allowing healthcare services to continue while minimising in-person interactions.
Electronic Health Records (EHRs)
Electronic Health Records replace traditional paper-based records, streamlining the storage and retrieval of service user information. EHRs consolidate medical history, medication records, test results, and treatment plans into a digital format accessible to authorised healthcare providers. This accessibility enhances coordination among different healthcare settings, reducing duplication of tests and ensuring continuity of care. Moreover, EHRs facilitate data sharing and analysis, paving the way for more personalised and data-based treatments.
Wearable Technologies
Smartwatches, fitness trackers, and specialised medical devices transmit real-time data to healthcare professionals, enabling remote monitoring and early intervention. For instance, wearable devices can alert medical teams if a person’s heart rate or blood glucose levels deviate from normal ranges. These technologies enable individuals to take an active role in their health and facilitate timely medical attention.
Data Analytics and Population Health Management
The amount of healthcare data holds great potential when harnessed effectively. Data analytics tools allow healthcare providers to gather insights from large datasets, enabling evidence-based decision-making. Population health management utilises data analytics to identify health trends within specific groups and tailor interventions accordingly. For instance, analysing data from a population can identify prevalent diseases, leading to targeted preventive measures and resource allocation.
Going digital with care records
In recent years, the Care Quality Commission (CQC) has advocated best practices in digital record systems. The essence of their guidance revolves around one central theme: the pivotal role of “good quality records” in delivering care that is safe, effective, compassionate, and of the highest quality.
The CQC outlines four fundamental principles that serve as the compass for providers navigating the digitisation of care records. These principles encompass the core values of person-centred care, availability, security, and governance, forming the pillars upon which the digital transformation of records should be built.
In order to help adult social care providers in England purchase from a guaranteed list of digital social care record solutions, the NHS Transformation Directorate’s Digitising Social Care Records Programme has created an Assured Solution List.
In place of traditional paper records, a Digital Social Care Record (DSCR) enables the digital recording of care data and care delivered to an individual within a social care environment. DSCRs are person-centred and allow for secure, real-time information sharing with authorised personnel within the health and care sector.
By March 2024, 80% of CQC-registered adult social care providers must have a digital social care record solution in place that can communicate with a local shared care record, according to the Digitising Social Care Records program’s mandate.
This data will be crucial in coordinating care between social services and the NHS, saving managers and carers time on administrative tasks while providing them with the knowledge they need to provide care. It will provide the framework for integrating other remote care tools and can help care planning become more individualised and person-centred.
Balancing Benefits and Risks
There are a number of advantages of adopting technology in healthcare, including:
- Providing service consumers with greater control over their own health, safety, and wellbeing
- Facilitating communication between families, medical professionals, and team members
- Data collection and comparison
- Offering the possibility of having more immediate remote access to a consultation
- Making service user data more accessible across locations, teams, and doctors
- Digital information is less likely to be lost, damaged, or destroyed than paper documents
However, there are certain risks to employing technology in healthcare, such as:
- An over-reliance on technology, which may impact staff’s attention to person-centred care
- A decrease in the quantity of one-on-one time that service users receive from employees
- Input mistakes when inaccurate information is entered
- Technical issues leading to system downtime
- Training for new technologies takes more time and money
The future of the health and social care industry is likely to be heavily influenced by advances in technology, which will help both employees and service users in a variety of ways. While there is excitement about the potential to use new, cutting-edge technologies, providing high-quality, safe, and dignified care will always take priority, and the rights and preferences of service users must always be taken into account when using new technology.
Becoming an effective Leader in Care with future technologies
Access Skills’ Level 5 Leadership and Management in Adult Care Diploma is your pathway to becoming an effective care leader who can harness the power of technology. In today’s healthcare landscape, technology is shaping how we deliver care, and this program equips you with the skills to navigate this digital world.
This diploma shows you how to use technology to make care processes smoother and more efficient. By learning to use tech tools effectively, you’ll be able to simplify tasks, make better decisions using data, and encourage innovative approaches in care.
Access Skills not only helps you grow as a care leader but also shows you how to use technology to make care even better. This combination of care and technology ensures that patients receive top-notch care, backed by smart use of digital tools. Discover our funding opportunities for you and your team’s development.
