Automation, artificial intelligence and interoperability are already helping to improve the efficiency of the healthcare system. According to ERNI’s own estimates based on projects developed for the health sector, these technologies can reduce the time dedicated to administrative tasks by up to 40%, speed up certain laboratory tests by up to 60% and reduce the repetition of diagnostic tests by up to 20%. These advances, driven largely by the automation of processes, take on special relevance after knowing the latest CIS Health Barometer, which reflects that 81% of Spaniards consider that waiting lists have worsened or remain the same.
ERNI points out that the increase in waiting times responds, among others, to five key factors: the high administrative burden assumed by health professionals; the lack of interoperability between health systems and centers; diagnostic processes that are still poorly automated; improved planning of agendas and care resources; and the sustained increase in health demand. The company believes that digitalization and automation can contribute to improving these areas, increasing the efficiency and capacity of the system without compromising the quality of care.
Drive automation of repetitive tasks
For the technology company, specialized in the development of digital solutions for highly regulated sectors such as healthcare, optimizing processes through automation represents one of the most effective ways to alleviate healthcare pressure without the need to increase available resources. The objective is not to replace the work of professionals, but to promote the automation of repetitive tasks, optimize processes and facilitate the exchange of clinical information so that doctors and healthcare personnel can dedicate more time to patient care.
«The pressure on health systems will not be resolved simply by incorporating more resources. It is also necessary to automate those tasks with lower added value so that healthcare professionals can focus on what they really add the most value to: patient care and clinical decision making. Technology and automation already make it possible to free up thousands of hours of administrative work in healthcare organizations, improve coordination between services and accelerate the availability of crucial information for clinical decision-making,” says Rubén Rodríguez, Head of HealthTech at ERNI Spain.
Automation is transforming processes that until a few years ago depended on manual interventions. From the intelligent management of appointments and the prioritization of diagnostic tests to the automated processing of samples or the real-time integration of clinical records, medical devices and laboratory systems, automation allows us to reduce errors, streamline care flows and accelerate clinical decision-making, always under the supervision of healthcare professionals. The integration of systems also avoids duplication and makes it easier for clinical information to accompany the patient throughout the care process. The combination of automation and interoperability also favors more agile and coordinated assistance.
Technology and automation can now free up thousands of hours of administrative work in healthcare organizations
The need to accelerate this transformation takes on special relevance in a context of high healthcare pressure. According to the latest CIS Health Barometer, only 21% of Spaniards get an appointment with their family doctor within a period of between 24 and 48 hours, while the average wait reaches ten days. In this context, automation is emerging as a key tool to optimize care management and reduce response times.
Added to this is that, according to the latest data from the Ministry of Health, nearly 4 million people are waiting for a first consultation with a hospital specialist and more than 845,000 patients remain on the waiting list for a surgical intervention, with average delays of 105 and 126 days, respectively.
For ERNI, automation, AI and interoperability represent an opportunity to increase the capacity of the health system by optimizing the resources already available and contributing to reducing waiting times that continue to be one of the main concerns of citizens. The commitment to the automation of administrative, diagnostic and management processes will allow progress towards a more efficient, coordinated and prepared health system to respond to the growth in healthcare demand.
