Technology has become an essential component in the healthcare field and is a platform of many uses for administrators and clinical personnel. Its role in communications has become the standard and vendors are continually searching for ways to integrate new applications into the domain.
The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA), also known as Obamacare or the Affordable Care Act, is the most significant government development of the U.S. healthcare system since the passage of Medicare and Medicaid in 1965, which when fully implemented, will expand coverage to an estimated 27 million previously uninsured Americans and ensure the availability of affordable coverage through traditional employer-sponsored insurance and the new Health Insurance Marketplaces.
With the upcoming increase in users and the proliferation of technology, technology consultants are becoming an essential component of the healthcare field. Helping a building owner, architect and general contractor plan the best systems, applications and infrastructure for prospective tenants involves bringing a wide perspective to managing the planning, design, installation, integration, commissioning and service of low-voltage systems, business applications and supporting infrastructure.
It is not uncommon for a hospital to spend funds on technologies, only to find the systems will not communicate because of the lack of proper planning. A lack of upfront planning can force many organizations into a costly process of undo and redo. While strategic planning can help save time, reduce risk, and decrease construction and operating costs while ensuring that the technology is deployed and is interoperable to achieve desired results.
