DIGITAL DEMANDS REQUIRE A LIQUID WORKFORCE

The composition of the workforce is changing. Digital has generated a more fluid workforce that can go where help is needed. Have a sick child? Digital services allow you to Skype with a pediatrician. Struggling with a high-risk pregnancy issue? Through virtual technology, a specialist in New York can treat an ailing patient in New Mexico.

Embracing the change

This emergent fluidity and flexibility is an adjustment for most healthcare organizations. Therefore, it requires some fundamental shifts in how the enterprise is structured, how people are trained and how the culture adapts to new technology-enabled ways of working. Today’s liquid workforce wants a new kind of work life that fulfills their desires for tailored experiences and personal connections. Automation can free up workers to build critical skills and grow. And, rather than spending time on the routine, they can focus on more meaningful work that requires judgment and personal interaction.

Positive outcomes

These workforce changes come with benefits. Continuous skill development allows organizations to launch innovations and differentiated services faster. Health plans can use crowdsourcing to hear from innovators and entrepreneurs who can deliver solutions that improve the consumer experience. With greater diversity of treatment options, health plans are making positive changes, such as reimbursing for virtual visits. And, virtual care gives patients the convenient and accessible care they want, when and where they want it.