Who’s Afraid of Technology? Not Us!

Change is hard. And, in this era of technology, change is constant. Employees are forced to move from paper to technology, learn new technology, or use existing technology in new and different ways. Some employees are resistant to any kind of change, while others simply struggle with learning and using technology (particularly the aging demographic).

As we near the deadline to comply with the EVV requirements as part of the 21st Century Cures Act, many caregiving organizations are in the process of implementing new technology. Here are some tips for overcoming this challenge and getting your employees on board.

Choose user-friendly technology

This means an intuitive user interface and minimal clicks to accomplish a task.

Communicate early and often

If you’re not preparing your team for the upcoming change, you’ve missed an opportunity. Sometimes the change curve is long and steep, so it’s important to start that journey early.

Convey the “why”

And make sure it’s in a way that’s meaningful to your employees. Saving money and meeting a federal mandate might be good business reasons, but they are unlikely to resonate with your employees. Translate those outcomes to how your employees will be better able to support your clients.

Make it a team effort

Rally the team to be a part of solving the problem you’re setting out to solve. You may even discover some potential issues and fix them before they become problems.

Invest time in proper employee training

Training should address people, process, AND technology. Don’t just teach them how to use the system. Whenever possible, give the employees hands-on learning in the system before they are required to use it.

Anticipate questions

There are usually a few questions that come up over and over again. Creating easy to find resources when they have questions about how to use the system will save you a lot of time. These resources should come in a variety of formats including tip sheets, videos, and visual cues around their work area.

Empower problem-solving

You cannot be available to help them 24/7. Give them a clear escalation path when they are not able to address their own issues with the resources you have already provided. Where do they go to get help? And where does it fall in The Eisenhower Decision Matrix? Give them the tools they need to decide whether an issue is important or just urgent.

Set clear goals

Measure employee compliance with standards for using the new technology and set goals the team can achieve. This will also help you discern the difference between a training issue and a performance issue.

Hold the team accountable

Be clear on the consequences of not using the system properly. The only way this works is if you follow through. Employees will always push the limits with a laissez-faire boss.

DCI understands the unique challenges that come with implementing a software solution, particularly in the caregiving industry. That’s why we invest in setting our customers up for success. We create a personalized project plan for each one of our customers and assign them a dedicated Implementation Specialist to assist them along the process.  

Our team members have been on both sides of the table. We can help you navigate the waters. Want more info? Request a demo!