Summary
The health and well-being of people hold a valuable place in every country. It is a direct indicator of how much attention and force is put by the government toward its people. That is why this paper is aimed to examine the current and future state of healthcare practice in Northern regions of New Zealand, specifically South Auckland. The aspects that will be studied are the impact of digitalization, merging disruptive technologies, societal shifts, and contemporary organizational ecosystems. These points are essential because they can show which areas of health care need improvement and some alterations.
The system of medical care in New Zealand is characterized by funding from the state of the regional system. Among the services provided, there are inpatient, outpatient, psychiatric and long-term treatment. In some cases, patients pay for the necessary medicines and services themselves. The National Government sets the annual budget and benefits package. A third of the population has private insurance, which helps to pay for uncovered services. Medical services are provided in institutions such as hospitals and private clinics.
Impact of Digitalisation
The introduction of new technologies and the universal digitalization of the healthcare field have some implications in my practice. Among them, resistance on the part of medical personnel can be distinguished. This is due to the fact that some employees resist the introduction of digital technologies into their practice. Henceforth, many prefer paperwork or experience fear or difficulty when using them. Digitalization is often quite expensive, which can also become an implication for the healthcare system (Habran, Saulpic, and Zarlowski, 2018). This is because its full implementation requires resources, some experience, and time.
The digitalization of medical care delivery processes plays a vital role in the tactics of clinical specialists. Areas of application of new technologies include providing access to medical knowledge resources, facilitating clinical support, and universal provision of health services (GjellebĂŚk, 2020). Furthermore, it helps in monitoring their quality and monitoring and reporting on the state of health and the level of spread of infectious and other diseases in the country (McLoughlin, Garrety and Wilson, 2017; Atasoy Greenwood and McCullough, 2019). Technologies also significantly improve the process of identifying risks and reducing harm to people in healthcare facilities (Romanova et al., 2019). An example of such technologies can be special electronic sensors that allow for measuring vital signs for monitoring patients.
Moreover, the digitalization of the medical care process has significantly affected my practice as it has improved the provision of accurate and safe exchange and provision of medicines. This aspect reduces the likelihood of preventable side effects from taking medications. Researchers, with the help of new technologies, help to extract the most valuable and valuable information that helps in making a diagnosis, conducting examinations or prescribing medications. This is an advantage when making complex clinical decisions and identifying and informing about adverse events and consequences. In addition, digital technologies are presented as an effective way to form the most favorable relations with consumers. Thus, the digitalization of the process of providing clinical care makes it more client-oriented and improves the quality of the results of providing services in the field of healthcare. Additionally, the use of new forms of care helps to strengthen the trust and loyalty of patients.
The process of transition to digitalization can be both complex and straightforward for different countries. However, it is worth noting that the degree of complexity of implementation depends on the country’s degree of development. Thus, in New Zealand, in comparison with countries that are not very successful in this regard, the process of digitalization is quite smooth and productive. Despite the fact that the costs of a temporary resource may characterize the introduction of new technologies, it is important to evaluate and correct the intermediate stages to achieve the best result. The constant improvement of digital innovations also conditions the length of this process.
Furthermore, to these indicators, it is vital to take into account the establishment of key performance indicators and the approach to the work of personnel with sufficient experience and qualifications. Thus, the quality and quantity of specialists involved are one of the biggest obstacles in the transformation of medical institutions. Significant investment from the New Zealand Government is needed to mitigate this circumstance. Therefore, budget and time resource is one of the main limiting factors in the process under study.
In the context of the northern regions of New Zealand, digital healthcare implies the introduction of innovative technologies and also taking into account cultural changes and peculiarities. This is done to identify ways to provide the most effective assistance to New Zealanders. In addition, it will help the residents of the country themselves to manage their health and well-being and take a direct part and influence the functioning of this system.
There is a need to consider ways to optimize cultural adaptation to Maori and Oakland within health services. This necessity is due to the need to reduce organizational problems related to inequality of access to health services (âHealth equity and cultural safety,â 2020). Taking into account cultural peculiarities in the practice of clinical specialists is designed to meet whÄnau where they are and do everything possible to give them what they need (Tipa, 2021). Focusing on these characteristics of the population optimizes the experience and ensures culturally safe practice. Moreover, cultural responsiveness and competence in this matter are also valuable.
Digitalisation also has an impact on such aspects as the supply chain, expressed in its computerization. This measure creates a noticeably improved and accelerated flow of supplies at each point of contact of the chain of formation and approval of the cost of medicines (SchlĂźter, Hetterscheid, and Henke, 2019: Sanders et al., 2019). Additionally, this process will help to increase the efficiency of the activities of all interested parties, making automation possible. This advantage leads to a reduction in the occurrence of human errors and operating costs.
The introduction of advanced technologies into healthcare practice also influences the emergence of such a phenomenon as the digital employee experience (DEX). It is expressed in the improvement of employee performance indicators when using digital technologies in the workplace. The essential component is the performance of devices, networks and end-users. Improving the digital experience of employees expands their capabilities and benefits the organization. This is due to the simplification of tasks by increasing productivity and achieving the goals and performance indicators set by the organization. In addition to the benefits in the healthcare system, digitalization contributes to reducing unemployment, improving the quality of life and expanding citizensâ access to clinical services.
To add to the aspects mentioned above, the transition to new technologies affects such indicators of the business model as accessibility, marketing and regulation of emerging disruptive technologies. The first indicator is expressed in the development of specialized platforms, such as websites. This measure helps to include consumers in the field of healthcare and improve their loyalty. Digitalization in the context of marketing helps companies providing medical services and those engaged in the production of medicines to get more profit and function productively. This is achieved by obtaining more detailed and complete information about patients, diseases and the well-being needs of New Zealand citizens. Moreover, knowing what is not working or what is working and how well allows organizations to be much more flexible, responsive and focused. Regulation of new breakthrough technologies also positively impacts healthcare institutions, consumers and manufacturing enterprises. These innovations change the product and services provided by the business, making it more accessible.
Thus, technological changes have a transformative role in healthcare. They contribute to the development of medical institutions and contribute to the improved functioning of diagnostic and clinical systems. However, there may be problems with tactics that require timely solutions and premature forecasting to reduce negative consequences. Moreover, with the help of computer technology, data analytics contributes to an even greater improvement in medicine and drug production. To limit errors and issues, organizations and the country’s government should consider such an indicator as data confidentiality.
New Zealand has lacked the investment levels necessary to embrace rapid changes in health IT technologies. Considering Auckland, the digitalization of the healthcare system is of particular concern. This is since information collection systems in this region are characterized by an insufficient level of development. This is especially true of data on the labor force of the region. To change the situation, it is necessary to attract significant investments. It will also require work on bringing together all the links involved in the process to achieve and work towards a common goal. Advances in digital technology have enormous potential to better support the health and well-being of the Auckland population. However, a prerequisite for the New Zealand system is to fully implement them in developing reliable data standards and systems to ensure sufficient data exchange and management (Lund, 2021). To do this, the introduction of artificial intelligence will be a good tool. It will affect all aspects of medicine. It also noticeably improves screening and diagnostic services for an increasing number of diseases.
Impact of Emerging Technologies and Societal Shifts
As already emphasized in this scientific work, technologies and their implementation in the practices significantly change all aspects of healthcare. Innovations such as artificial intelligence, the Internet and 3D printing have been of great help in providing medical services in my practice area. Despite the fact that some of them are still waiting for their application to clinical institutions in New Zealand, especially Auckland, their study can show all their advantages. To better understand these innovations, it is important to consider their usefulness for medical institutions (Abbing, 2020). The first is a direct contribution to developing non-Internet technologies, such as improving business models. This is due to the provision of a large amount of information, which forms the best strategic decisions. The last aspect is the possibility of creating a network of values by forming a complementary and mutually connected market. At the same time, my practice effectively responds to these changes and makes the necessary alterations to improve the quality of medical services provided.
Such non-digital technologies as changing the business model can show special productivity in the conditions of insufficiently developed innovative technologies. Thus, this measure implies the establishment of a strategy to regulate resources, processes and assumptions about the costs that a medical organization requires. Thus, such a well-thought-out business model will contribute to providing a unique value offer for customers.
Henceforth, business strategy and innovation can provide better care for patients and generate higher profits for institutions. Thus, their application in my practice can actively and fundamentally change the way the industry works and how medical care is provided in the northern regions of New Zealand. At the same time, it is crucial to take into account the motivation of institutions and risk assessment for more effective assistance and the use of advanced analytics data.
Social factors also have a strong influence on digitalization and the formation of other aspects of the healthcare sector. It is imperative to note such factors as the prosperity of the population, its satisfaction with medical services and products and the general state of health. Thus, collecting data on these indicators contributes to forming health strategies and policies (Iivari et al., 2017). For example, a study of the incidence of cancer can show how much hospitals need to introduce innovations to combat them.
Poor social and economic conditions affect health throughout life. Thus, the state and clinical organizations should improve these conditions. Moreover, an important role is played by the psychological conditions of the population, which can cause prolonged stress and negatively affect health (âHow can society influence health?â, n.d.). Shifts occurring in society directly impact all medical professionals, including nurses, doctors, and healthcare institutions (SĂŚtra and Fosch-Villaronga, 2021). Another important characteristic that should be considered is the significant time costs. However, these changes are also gradual and can be overlooked at a smaller individual level. The goal of social change is always to change social norms and behavior somehow and leave an imprint on the field of clinical services. Therefore, social transformations are a positive force that has beneficial consequences. Thus, initiatives on the people affect the formation of policies to reduce the stay of patients in the hospital, the construction of more public clinics and the introduction of social packages of services.
Despite the weight of advances in technology, management and training of medical developments, societal transformations still play a leading role. It contributes to the practice of strengthening public health indicators and treatment methods and strategies. This impact is determined by the fact that social movements determine to a greater extent, the social factors contributing to the emergence and spread of certain diseases. As a result, medical institutions are implementing new strategies with the help of innovative technologies, taking into account the aspects mentioned above (Weiss et al., 2018). Hence, positive changes are being made to healthcare structures. Among them, implemented in my practice experience, such as improving communication capabilities and allocating the necessary resources for further adaptation, can be highlighted. In addition, more accurate and complete information is obtained and, thereby, more effective planning and setting of long-term the northern region of New Zealand needs information technology as a key factor for the development and improvement of hospitals.
They allow organizations to form a clear vision and implement all the set aims of patient-oriented healthcare systems. Improving the conditions of access to health services and enhancing the results of their provision are also valuable in this process. The key aspects that require special attention regarding the treatment are the strengthening and modernization of the diagnosis, treatment and research of diseases, simplifying the entire system of providing medical care and the efficiency of staff work.
The service approach can be used to improve these aspects in accordance with their various operational requirements. Considering the providers in the medical field, special attention should be paid to the formation of a customer-oriented culture. The sources also note the value of implementing telemedicine in the northern region. Thus, in the practice of Auckland, a new service was developed with the help of the Zoom Video Communications innovation (Gray et al., 2020). This development provides a secure and reliable platform for the exchange of visual and audio content (Earon, 2020). Further, the data provided dramatically simplifies the process of patient care and public health management and short-term goals and objectives. Telemedicine using Zoom technology also opens up accessibility for online consultations.
Telemedicine can provide special assistance in an area such as Manukau, where specialists work with vulnerable patients suffering from heart failure. This technology can be used to monitor patients at home (Wootton, Craig, and Patterson, 2017). In addition, telemedicine can be used for patients with heart failure (Eurlings et al., 2019). In this example, which I met in practice, a unique program is being developed for monitoring and treatment at home.
Organizational approaches used in the healthcare system must meet the requirements of sustainability, responsivity and cultural compliance. As a consequence of this factor, it is necessary to examine the demographic aspect, which affects the quantity and quality of clinical services provided. In addition, it is essential to prioritize the government and the providers of these services and to assess the condition of buildings and general infrastructure and its renewal. This will improve the environmental condition and ensure the organization’s sustainability, which will positively impact its activities and loyalty from society (Ginter, Duncan, and Swayne, 2018). Optimal use of medical and information technologies, labor force and business models can also contribute to this indicator. It will also affect the ability of healthcare institutions to respond to emerging trends and changes associated with them. Consideration of cultural peculiarities results in consumersâ access to the necessary services. Interaction with local initiatives and stakeholders will also positively impact this factor.
Contemporary Organizational Approaches in the Context of Professional Practice
Modern approaches to management are necessary for the practice of medical specialists. The need to adjust to the constantly changing environment plays a vital role (Schedlitzki and Edwards, 2021). Moreover, when chosen correctly, such approaches provide the basis for management practices. They will form the basis of more recent trends, such as globalization or concepts of theory (Anderson et al., 2018). Understanding governance from a global perspective has now become important. There are several basic modern approaches to the behest of organizations. Among them are socio-technical systems, quantitative management, organizational behavior and systems theory (Eljaoued, Yahia, and Saoud, 2020). In the course of practice and accumulated experience, I can say that quantitative management can become effective in the context of New Zealand. Hence, this approach helps the healthcare organization where I have my practice to become more sustainable, resilient and culturally responsive and effective. Clinical companies should be an ecosystem that takes into account cultural characteristics to achieve the best results, which is clearly visible in my practice area, and be able to respond timely to changes.
The quantitative approach focuses more on the statistical analysis of data on the health sector in the country. The quantitative way of organizing a business extracts and analyzes all types of data and can be used to develop and improve many areas of a companyâs activities (Pearce and Pons, 2019; Runfola et al., 2017). However, despite its effectiveness, it is worth considering that it cannot be the only method used. Combining approaches is essential to improve performance. Hence, an organizational approach can be applied that takes into account the behavior of the organizationâs employees. Further, it provides the cultural aspect of the organizationâs activities. As a result of the introduction of precious aspects, managers of a medical institution can timely identify alternatives if problems arise in conditions of constant change. A qualitative approach can provide effective dispute resolution and determine the success of an organization in its activities. This can also be measured by analyzing and researching information about critical indicators that are set in advance by the medical institution. The main chain of the ecosystem of the organization of my practice is the sequence of medical institutions – patient – doctors, medical service providers. Thus, it is at the beginning of the ecosystem. It is relevant in relation to other industries as it occupies an important place and is undergoing digital changes.
Healthcare institutions should also develop an approach to adopt innovations. Specialized research and development can be used to ensure the smoothness and ease of this process. Research activities and unique projects are among the main ways in which businesses can address innovation. Although not all research and development leads to the introduction of new technologies and approaches, it is unlikely that they will occur without a certain degree of research and development.
Following Sustainable Development Goals is valuable for the organization in which my practice takes place. Thus, one of these aims is to maintain the health of the population as a way to improve the well-being of the northern regions of New Zealand. This aspect includes such processes as ensuring the implementation of nutrition measures that will affect the improvement of the quality of life and reduce the mortality rate, especially among the countryâs child population. This process can also be achieved with the help of vaccination, which is especially relevant in the current conditions of the global coronavirus pandemic (Grech and Borg, 2020). As a consequence, the second goal that I think is important to highlight is the implementation of measures to increase the level of immunization (âSustainable development goals,â 2020). The government supports medical organizations to identify and eliminate gender barriers to the provision of immunization services that are increasingly emerging.
Personal and Collective Capability in Rapidly Changing Work Environments
Organizations that provide medical care should invest in digital technologies. This section also implies the acquisition of limited skills to be developed for more effective work. As companies compete to attract proficient candidates in new technologies, employees with extensive experience in these areas have a significant advantage and value for implementing digitalization initiatives. However, gaps in knowledge and skills about how to use them correctly emerged. Henceforth, the introduction of technology helps in making decisions on complex issues and helping the population of New Zealand.
I can deduce several basic skills required to implement the benefits of digital changes and to minimize risk in my practice. The first is the ability to work with cloud subtractions and servers. The cloud model has several significant advantages. The possibility of business expansion and optimization of infrastructure costs and innovations can be highlighted among them. Cloud computing is one of the fastest-growing opportunities for organizations. Thus, they are actively looking for candidates with practical experience in creating and maintaining cloud applications. I cannot say that I have a complete understanding of this area, so I think that I need to develop in this topic, as it will add value to me as an employee.
The following important skill is creating an attractive user interface design. IDC predicts that by 2025 there will be 55.7 billion connected devices globally, 75% of which will be connected to the Internet platform (âIoT growth demands rethink of long-term storage strategies, says IDCâ, 2020). That is why the healthcare sector should pay more attention to this aspect. This will help simplify the process of receiving, providing and receiving information on a particular service and product, which will significantly increase the loyalty and commitment of customers. The next technology that I have recently mastered and which I consider one of the most critical is blockchain. It has an important place in healthcare as it can be used in several processes at once. Thus, this innovative technology will manage electronic medical records drug supply chains and control the distribution of donor organs. Moreover, practice shows that blockchain effectively conducts clinical trials and remote monitoring of patients and generally improves the process of conducting procedural analysis of medical data.
The latter, but an essential skill in the transition to digital technologies, can be called cybersecurity. This aspect of running a medical care facility is precious because it is associated with such an ethical issue as the safety of personal data. This leads to the use of cybersecurity tools to resist various hacks and the appearance of errors related to the storage of information on electronic or online devices. I believe that cybersecurity is the principal strategic priority for a clinical organization, and this skill needs to be developed by all medical professionals, not just computer scientists.
To benefit from the changes in medical practice requires some necessary collective skills. Competence in this area implies the acquisition of the necessary skills within the group and directly from the connections and interactions formed in it (Tang, Vezzani, and Eriksson, 2020). Thus, productive relationships with colleagues helped significantly improve the employee’s skills and increase the ability to adapt to changes in the workplace. This is due to the constant exchange of knowledge between people, contributing to their memorization. Moreover, collective skills are essential when providing patient care and depend on relationships and teamwork. This aspect is an addition to individual skills (Huang and Chin, 2018). However, the sources also emphasize that individual competence is necessary but insufficient for adequate medical care. Working in a well-coordinated team contributes to ensuring the safety and quality of healthcare and is an essential means of socializing new employees.
Failures and difficulties associated with introducing changes, especially those related to such a relatively complex area as digitalization, require immediate collective work. Henceforth, each employee can assist his colleagues in facilitating the adaptation process and reducing stress levels. Thus, it can be said that a team can be competent, even if one of its members is incompetent. At the same time, one such employee can seriously affect the team’s results. Based on experience and practice, I can say that since this factor is of significant importance in healthcare, organizations should implement measures to build joint hearing and create a positive atmosphere in the workplace.
The joint design also plays a significant role in the digitalization of healthcare facilities in the northern regions of New Zealand, such as Auckland. This initiative was developed with the participation of the community for which the project will be intended. Moreover, the National Institute of Health Innovation contributed to developing the project created by Toi Tangata, Fono Health & Social Services (Mhurchu et al., 2019). In this project, a study was conducted with the involvement of hui and fono focus groups to develop the direction and content of the application and website.
Therefore, this scientific work considered the areas of health services in the northern regions of New Zealand, paying attention to the Auckland region. The issues of digitalization of medical organizations, taking into account collective and personal skills in clinical practice and the influence of emerging technologies and society, were taken as a basis. The impact and contribution of society to introducing new strategies and adopting business models were also analyzed. The substantial impact of new technologies in optimizing and bringing efficiency into providing medical services has also been proven. In this context, it was also considered how they were reflected not only on the specialists themselves but also on the supply chain and customers’ experience.
Reference List
Abbing, H.R. (2020) âInnovative technologies in healthcare, beware of the pitfalls, European Journal of Health Law, 27(1), pp.1-8.
Anderson, D.R. et al. (2018) An introduction to management science: a quantitative approach. United Kingdom: Cengage Learning.
Atasoy, H., Greenwood, B.N. and McCullough, J.S. (2019) âThe digitization of patient care: a review of the effects of electronic health records on health care quality and utilization, Annual Review of Public Health, 40, pp.487-500. Web.
Earon, S. (2020) Video communications in healthcare. Web.
Eljaoued, W., Yahia, N.B. and Saoud, N.B.B. (2020) âA qualitative-quantitative resilience assessment approach for socio-technical systemsâ, Procedia Computer Science, 176, pp.2625-2634. Web.
Eurlings, C.G.M.J., Boyne, J.J., De Boer, R.A. and Brunner-La Rocca, H.P. (2019) âTelemedicine in heart failure-more than nice to have?â, Netherlands Heart Journal, 27(1), pp.5-15. Web.
Ginter, P.M., Duncan, W.J. and Swayne, L.E. (2018) The strategic management of health care organizations. USA: John Wiley & Sons.
GjellebĂŚk, C. (2020) âManagement challenges for future digitalization of healthcare services, Futures, 124, p.102636. Web.
Gray, L.M., Wong-Wylie, G., Rempel, G.R. and Cook, K. (2020) âExpanding qualitative research interviewing strategies: Zoom video communicationsâ, The Qualitative Report, 25(5), pp.1292-1301.
Grech, V. and Borg, M. (2020) Influenza vaccination in the COVID-19 era. Early Human Development, 148, p.105116. doi: 10.1016/j.earlhumdev.2020.105116
Habran, E., Saulpic, O. and Zarlowski, P. (2018) âDigitalisation in healthcare: An analysis of projects proposed by practitionersâ, British Journal of Healthcare Management, 24(3), pp.150-155. Web.
Health equity and cultural safety (n.d.) Web.
How can society influences health? (n.d.) Web.
Huang, Y.C. and Chin, Y.C. (2018) âTransforming collective knowledge into team intelligence: the role of collective teachingâ, Journal of Knowledge Management.
Iivari, M. et al. (2017) âDigitalisation of healthcare: Use of data in policy makingâ, ISPIM Conference Proceedings, pp. 1-13.
IoT growth demands rethink of long-term storage strategies, says IDC (2020) Web.
Lund, J. (2021) How customer experience drives digital transformation. Web.
McLoughlin, I.P., Garrety, K. and Wilson, R. (2017) The digitalisation of healthcare: electronic records and the disruption of moral orders. United Kingdom: Oxford University Press.
Mhurchu, C.N. et al. (2019) âA co-designed mHealth programme to support healthy lifestyles in MÄori and Pasifika peoples in New Zealand (OL@-OR@): a cluster-randomised controlled trialâ, The Lancet Digital Health, 1(6), pp. e298-e307. Web.
Pearce, A. and Pons, D. (2019) âAdvancing lean management: The missing quantitative approachâ, Operations Research Perspectives, 6, p.100114. Web.
Romanova, T.F. et al. (2019) âDigitalisation as an urgent trend in the development of the social sphereâ, Institute of Scientific Communications Conference, pp. 931-939.
Runfola, A. et al. (2017) âThe use of qualitative case studies in top business and management journals: A quantitative analysis of recent patternsâ, European Management Journal, 35(1), pp.116-127. Web.
SĂŚtra, H.S. and Fosch-Villaronga, E. (2021) âHealthcare digitalisation and the changing nature of work and societyâ, Healthcare, 9(8), p. 1007. Web.
Sanders, N.R. et al. (2019) âSustainable supply chains in the age of AI and digitization: research challenges and opportunitiesâ, Journal of Business Logistics, 40(3), pp.229-240. Web.
Schedlitzki, D. and Edwards, G. (2021) Studying leadership: Traditional and critical approaches. New York: Sage.
SchlĂźter, F.F., Hetterscheid, E. and Henke, M. (2019) âA simulation-based evaluation approach for digitalisation scenarios in smart supply chain risk managementâ, Journal of Industrial Engineering and Management Science, 2019(1), pp.179-206. Web.
Sustainable development goals (2020) Web.
Tang, T., Vezzani, V. and Eriksson, V. (2020) âDeveloping critical thinking, collective creativity skills and problem solving through playful design jamsâ, Thinking Skills and Creativity, 37, p. 100696. Web.
Tipa, Z. (2021) Mahi NgÄtahi: Culturally responsive ways of working with whÄnau accessing Well Child/Tamariki Ora services. Doctoral dissertation, Auckland University of Technology.
Weiss, D. et al. (2018) âInnovative technologies and social inequalities in health: a scoping review of the literatureâ, PloS One, 13(4), p. e0195447. Web.
Wootton, R., Craig, J. and Patterson, V. (2017) Introduction to telemedicine. London: CRC Press.