BY THE DIGITAL HEALTH LEADERS FOR THE DIGITAL HEALTH COMMUNITY
BY THE DIGITAL HEALTH LEADERS Written by : Nikita Saha
June 7, 2024
In a recently held DHN Forum Mumbai, hosted by Digital Health News (DHN), the founder & CEO of ScaleHealthTech and DHN - Vishnu Saxena spotlighted on how to build a solid digital transformation strategy.
In his deliberation, Saxena emphasized the imperative shift from merely adopting digital tools to fully integrating digital strategies into healthcare operations.
He also outlined the critical steps for building a robust digital transformation strategy, highlighting the central role of patient-centric approaches, the importance of aligning digital initiatives with enterprise goals, and the necessity of leveraging advanced technologies and infrastructure.
Additionally, the DHN founder and CEO stressed the long-term benefits of a well-executed digital strategy in enhancing patient experience, operational efficiency, and overall healthcare delivery.
‘’Doing digital is not a question of if, it's a question of when. And it is not a choice anymore either. Either you do it or you get left behind." -Vishnu Saxena
As Saxena, articulated at the DHN Forum Mumbai, the imperative of digital transformation in healthcare is undeniable and universal. Organizations across the globe, from the US to India, are compelled to adopt digital methodologies to stay competitive.
Saxena posed the fundamental question - "What does digital transformation mean? And how do you want to make that happen in your organization?"
This underscores the necessity for healthcare systems to not only adopt digital tools but to fully integrate them into their core operational strategies.
Drawing from his extensive experience of over 14 years in IT management consulting, Saxena emphasized that the drive towards digital transformation is fueled by two primary forces: the consumers/patients, and the hospitals.
Patients are increasingly demanding seamless, digitally enhanced experiences in their healthcare journeys, akin to the conveniences they enjoy in other sectors such as e-commerce and banking.
On the other hand, hospitals are striving to meet these expectations while simultaneously improving operational efficiency and patient engagement. Thus, the journey from "doing digital" to "being digital" is not merely an option but a strategic imperative for survival and growth in the healthcare industry, as observed by Sexana.
Going ahead Saxena emphasized that patients are the focal point of digital transformation in healthcare. He explained that hospital executives, such as the CMO, COO, and CEO, aim to have a comprehensive 720° view of each patient to achieve their primary objectives: acquiring more patients, retaining existing ones, and engaging both new and the current ones.
This holistic view is essential for fulfilling the business objectives of hospitals, which include patient attraction, retention, and engagement across their healthcare journey.
Tools such as digital health portals, mobile apps, and gamification are driven by a robust, secure infrastructure enabled by cloud technology and APIs. These technological advancements underpin the digital strategy, ensuring that the patient remains the central convergence point.
"The patient AKA the consumer is the convergence point of the digital transformation," remarked the founder and CEO.
He further drew parallels with other industries, noting that consumers now expect the same seamless and personalized experiences in healthcare as they do in retail, travel, and banking.
According to him, patients expect similar efficiency in healthcare services, such as easy appointment scheduling and personalized reminders. Saxena highlighted that superior consumer experiences in healthcare not only enhance patient satisfaction but also significantly improve financial performance.
Ultimately, modern healthcare experiences, driven by data and tailored to individual needs, are crucial for effective patient engagement and retention.
According to him, the consumerization of healthcare, coupled with the demand for improved access, experience, and engagement, is pushing hospitals towards virtualized care delivery models, telemedicine, and remote patient monitoring.
For hospitals and CIOs, the key objectives of digital strategy revolve around acquiring, engaging, and retaining patients, empowering healthcare professionals, and reducing the cost of care delivery.
Per Saxena, these objectives form the cornerstone of creating a digital transformation roadmap, ensuring alignment with organizational goals and driving innovation in healthcare delivery.
"Digital strategy cannot be stand-alone. It is not a piece of paper that can live in the CIO's office. It is an approach imbibed into the enterprise strategy-wise," stated CEO Saxena.
He also noted that the outcome of digital strategy and transformation in hospitals does not come in six months or one year. It comes maybe in the second year or the following year.
Saxena emphasized the need to integrate digital strategy with enterprise strategy, highlighting that digital strategy cannot exist in isolation.
He stressed the importance of aligning the digital strategy with the broader objectives of the organization and advocated for a holistic approach to digital transformation.
Likewise, he also noted the significance of defining clear goals and objectives for digital transformation. He highlighted the importance of understanding the potential risks of not executing on digital initiatives and conducting readiness assessments and benchmarking to ensure alignment with organizational objectives.
Further, Saxena discussed the importance of evaluating existing digital initiatives to determine their effectiveness and alignment with organizational goals. He emphasized the need to measure the impact of these initiatives on business outcomes and compare them to industry benchmarks to identify areas for improvement.
Once the digital strategy vision and assessment are complete, Saxena emphasized the need for roadmap development.
He stressed the importance of prioritizing initiatives based on their alignment with organizational goals and strategic objectives, ensuring effective implementation and successful digital transformation.
In his presentation, the founder & CEO delineated the vast array of opportunities within the realm of digital transformation. From enhancing patient engagement to streamlining organizational efficiency, he emphasized the need to align digital initiatives with key strategic areas.
Saxena also highlighted the importance of budget allocation, readiness assessment, and prioritization to effectively navigate the digital transformation journey.
Additionally, he underscored the significance of defining clear goals, assessing technical capabilities, and selecting strategic technology partners to drive successful implementation.
Saxena concluded his speech by emphasizing the imperative for healthcare organizations to not just "do" digital but to "be" digital. He stressed the importance of embracing digital transformation as a fundamental aspect of organizational identity rather than merely a series of initiatives.
Saxena urged attendees to adopt a phased approach, encompassing strategic vision, readiness assessment, roadmap development, and execution.
Lastly, he stated that the future of healthcare lies in being digitally driven and encouraged stakeholders to leverage the myriad digital opportunities to enhance patient care, improve operational efficiency, and drive organizational growth.
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