Technology has redefined working practices across all industries with the workplace increasingly becoming a more flexible, mobile environment. Mobilisation of the NHS workforce has the potential to enhance NHS service efficiency, although it faces unique control and security challenges in doing so.
Technology surge across the NHS
With an influx of devices that enable users to access and update data, from multiple locations, the efficiency advantages for the NHS are significant. This enhancement in productivity continues to be at the core of the NHS delivering better care.
Employees expect to be able to update systems, access patient data and reference systems on demand. By equipping staff with this technology, the NHS can potentially vastly increase efficiencies in patient care, as well as empowering employees with the tools they need to fulfil their role.
The right tools help to build moral and motivation, as employees feel valued and more effective. In many cases, mobile access has meant that NHS staff can deliver care where and when it is required.
Staff access management
To achieve this level of staff mobilisation, they must have access to the right systems. This is only possible with a well-designed and managed directory of staff, utilising products such as BDS Solutions’ Directory Manager, so control can be maintained and records can be kept up-to-date.
Once you have a robust people management directory, you can control access to information, systems and devices. From here the many challenges of supporting a huge mobile workforce can be overcome.
Security of both data and systems is high on the agenda and the NHS is becoming a bigger target. By effectively managing who has access to what systems, the NHS can put in place tighter controls. Additionally, as more applications are used on mobile devices, there is more demand placed on the directory to facilitate these requests.
It is not just about security, but ensuring that staff have timely access to the right systems to do their role. Controlling access to staff who have changed positions or new recruits is just as important as deactivating employees who have left the organisation.
The challenge for many Trusts is getting the various people management systems communicating, to ensure visibility across the organisation and to deliver an accurate access picture.
Optimise to mobilise
As the NHS continues to look for efficiencies and increase productivity more demand will be placed on the people directory to support mobile working. The complexity of doing so will only increase as more systems go mobile, more roles require mobile working, and as technology advances.
For a Trust to ensure patient care is at its optimum, the focus must be on putting in place a robust people management solution to increase visibility and control.
BDS Solutions is a leading IT partner for NHS Trusts and organisations across the UK. BDS Solutions delivers reliable and efficient IT infrastructure that ensures secure access to vital NHS systems across multiple locations and devices for NHS staff.