Uncertainty brought about because of the global pandemic has brought the need for a modern, mobile workplace. The ability to support a mobile workforce are essential so that staff are able to do their jobs effectively. Flexible and secure access to data and applications via collaboration tools such as those available through the Microsoft 365 technology stack have really come to the fore in the past 12 months. They have become particularly crucial to our under-pressure healthcare organisations in the UK.
It is no exaggeration to say that the NHS has been faced with unprecedented demand for critical care and have had to work in many new and different ways, all the while hampered by aging technology such as Windows 7 or older versions of Microsoft Office.
In order to support our healthcare system, it is imperative that healthcare organisations are set up with the right tools to allow them to work effectively and deliver patient care in the most effective way possible.
What do we mean by a modern workplace?
A successful modern workplace is supported with a methodology that addresses both the technical and business capabilities required to transition an organisation. Central to this is the ability for its workforce to be effective and productive in their roles, regardless of device or location.
The implementation of a modern workplace is key for any organisation in making what Microsoft are terming the ‘Modern Work’ transition. To support this, it is important to deploy the tools and services available in the Microsoft 365 technology stack to allow teams to work together collaboratively. This would start with the move to Windows 10 and Microsoft 365 Apps (previously Office Pro-Plus). These tools enable users to personalise devices to suit them, from display settings to ways of working and accessing files.
Modern healthcare workplace standard design approach
The key to a successful modern workforce is to give an organisation the means to create, manage and distribute its information, content and knowledge in a way that provides maximum flexibility and benefit to the workforce.
A well implemented and, in some instances, mature modern workplace is particularly advantageous for healthcare organisations as it delivers significant productivity benefits and allows for more flexibility in how clinicians and healthcare staff work and collaborate with each other. Additionally, having more flexible and efficient tools available frees up time so that patient-facing staff can redeploy their efforts on to treat patients, rather than struggling with getting technology to work.
The ‘modern work’ journey
Having a modern, up-to-date and supported Windows operating system is a key foundational element of delivering a modern workplace, and also for improving on the overall user experience.
A key takeaway from a successful approach is to ensure that healthcare organisations clearly understand the difference between delivering rich end-user functionality – such as the integration of Microsoft 365 workloads – and the tools and services that underpin these capabilities needed to support that seamless end user experience.
Evergreen and secure IT for a modern workplace
Windows 10 has been designed for modern computing in the modern world. When deployed as part of a Microsoft 365 transformation, the principle of evergreen IT ensures that all components of the service – both at a device level and underlying infrastructure level – remain up-to-date. Then there is the issue of security; clearly a hot topic for healthcare organisations where sensitive personal data is at the heart of activities.
A modern workplace approach delivers the following benefits for healthcare organisations:
- Significant improvements in productivity and efficiency – it is easier to create, find, share, collaborate and consume content created within your healthcare organisation.
- Security by design – Windows 7 was released over a decade ago and is therefore more vulnerable to new and emerging security threats than Windows 10, whose underlying architecture features security at the core of its design.
- Enterprise-wide security – as part of a modern workplace transformation to Microsoft 365, Windows 10 includes enterprise-grade security services to protect end user devices, the services being consumed and the data accessed.
- Eliminate expensive support – a Windows 7 device will no longer provide a good end user experience, requiring IT departments to spend considerable time maintaining them.
What next?
Healthcare organisations are facing multiple workplace challenges. These include ever-increasing security threats, inefficiencies in communications and collaboration, a need for enhanced data sharing and, of course, demand for more flexible working. This means there’s an immediate need to transform technology and the way people and processes operate.
The good news is that digital transformation has accelerated beyond recognition over the past year and barriers to change have lessened. The delivery of a suitable modern workplace – both for frontline and back-office teams – has been brought into reach. However, it is vital that users experience minimal disruption. A ‘one touch’ approach that co-ordinates the design, build and deployment is essential.
- A further consideration to consider when delivering large-scale shifts in how healthcare organisations work is to ensure sufficient time is allocated for discovery, license validation, packaging and testing.
Delivered in incremental steps, an approach such as that outlined above ensures the benefits of a mature modern healthcare workplace are realised; securely enabling employee engagement and collaboration across disparate locations and devices. This ultimately leads to better outcomes for patients.
By Steve Morgan, Partnership Director, Agilisys.
