How does digitization affect the work in hospitals?

More technology, better work? Consequences of digitization in the hospital

Digitization affects almost all occupational fields and will also significantly change the work in hospitals in the future. In a recent study by the Hans Böckler Foundation, scientists have investigated how widespread the use of modern devices such as PCs, smartphones and tablets among nursing and medical staff in German clinics already is and what effects digital technology has on work processes, tasks and tasks on the workload of employees.

The work in German hospitals is already being influenced to a considerable extent by digitization, according to the Communication of the Institute for Work and Technology (IAT / Westfälische Hochschule) on the current study results. The Social and Nursing Scientists around Michaela Evans, Professor Josef Hilbert and Christoph Bräutigam from the IAT had investigated the use of digital media in everyday clinical practice on behalf of the Hans Böckler Foundation. The results of the study were published by the foundation in a separate article.

How far digitization has already reached German clinics has been examined in a recent study by the Hans Böckler Foundation. (Image: s_l / fotolia.com)

Insight into digitalization everyday life

As part of a nationwide online survey, 648 clinic employees were interviewed, of whom 79 percent worked in nursing, six percent as physicians and the rest in assistant occupations, in the therapeutic area or in administration and technology. In addition, interview-based operations research was carried out in two hospitals. "Based on the qualitative data, the study thus provides an exceptionally detailed and empirically founded insight into the digitization routine of German hospitals," according to the IAT Communication.

Use of digital technologies is widespread

The result of the survey was quite surprising, according to the researchers. Digitization plays "plays a significantly larger role in the day-to-day work of employees than previously thought." More than 70 percent of employees regularly use digital technology "in the areas of communication, logistics, management and personnel, patient care, information and qualification". Digital media are particularly popular for researching subject information, material requirements, diagnostics, and patient data management, the researchers report.

Work processes in transition

IAT Nursing Scientist Christoph Bräutigam concludes that the use of digital technology for employees has long been part of everyday working life. "Almost 90 percent of respondents said they are open to new technologies," the expert said. The assumption that nurses, for example, are skeptical about new technologies, has not been confirmed. All in all, the task complexes and work processes in the hospital are changing due to digitalisation. This was also shown by the fact that 37 percent of the respondents stated that task-relevant information would only be communicated digitally in their field of work.

Additional burden instead of relief?

The digital media are not only integrated into the workday, but also have a decisive influence on its design. For example, 42 percent of respondents said that the number of work situations in which the computer dictates the next step in the work process has increased. "26 percent are even more often unable to independently plan the next work step," the scientists continue. The work instructions were received in 57 percent of the subjects increasingly by e-mail or SMS. However, the new technologies for the employees so far do not seem to bring with them any tangible relief. Rather, three-quarters of respondents said that "the range of tasks in the workplace has increased and often several tasks have to be done in parallel."

Use of digital technology so far rather diffuse

The use of smartphones and tablets often leads to undesired disruptions and interruptions in work, according to the report of the IAT. Here are the actually intended positive effects in practice so far only limited recognizable. Michaela Evans, head of the IAT research program "Work and Change," emphasizes that the practical benefits of digital technologies for time savings, greater effectiveness, and quality improvements in patient care are currently more diffuse for practitioners. "So far it is unclear how digital technology can concretely contribute to the relief and revaluation of the work", so the expert's conclusion. (Fp)