The importance of "having the right tool for the job" is a concept that has been woven into popular lexicon. It has been a tagline for marketers and advice of fathers across the country. Having the right tool or resource prior to starting a job can ensure that not only is the job completed, but done so in the most effective way possible that can also push future growth.
In the medical landscape this concept is taking an interesting turn in the form of IT personnel. In many instances, the "job" in question is the implementation of the latest technologies like electronic health records (EHRs) or the use of tablets, and the "right tool" is a qualified IT team who can not only manage the systems but also help push innovation even further.
Unfortunately for IT Principals, that is easier said than done. According to a recent PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) survey, the shortage of health IT (HIT) workers has providers scrambling to fill the talent void. In the report, 75 percent of respondents said they are now looking to hire new employees to meet the growing demand for technological innovation.
"It's also a shortage of people with the skills to marry technological savvy with business strategy as healthcare becomes more connected, coordinated and accountable," Daniel Garrett, PwC's HIT practice leader, said in the report. "Despite billions of dollars spent investing in HIT, the lack of qualified professionals could slow progress toward quality and efficiency. The benefits of HIT will not be realized until organizations can ensure information is unlocked and integrated in a way to best inform critical business and clinical decision-making."
The College of Health Information Management Executives found that that 67 percent of healthcare CIOs are experiencing IT staff shortages and 59 percent of respondents said staffing challenges will negatively impact their chances to receive government incentives for implementing and effectively using EHRs.
This has led many IT Principals to turn to VARs and MSPs to answer IT challenges. Solution providers that have partnered with VAR Staffing offer the top talent to help medical practices stay innovative.
