Your team is hesitant about new healthcare technology. How can you overcome their resistance to change?

Quantos medos tínhamos antes da pandemia em relação ao trabalho remoto, ou até mesmo vídeo conferência? Quantas vezes não sai de São Paulo para fazer reuniões rápidas em outros Estados. Coisas simples e que poderiam ter sido resolvidas de forma remota. Temos que vencer barreiras e resistências!

Navigating healthcare technology adoption is challenging yet rewarding. With experience from both healthcare sides and a passion for innovation, I've overcome initial hurdles through domain knowledge, technical expertise, and successful pilot projects. To gain acceptance for new solutions, solid data backing is crucial, proving efficacy and safety. Equally important are pilot programs at reputable centers, showcasing real-world benefits. Addressing team concerns begins with understanding their perspective. Communicate clear benefits—improved patient outcomes, efficiency gains, and enhanced support for their work. Implementing pilots at respected centers validates these benefits, building trust and paving the way for successful adoption.

To overcome resistance to new healthcare technology among your team, empathy and communication are key. Begin by listening attentively to their concerns and acknowledging any anxieties they may have about the changes. Understanding their perspective creates trust and opens avenues for constructive dialogue. Address their fears directly by highlighting the benefits of the new technology, such as improved efficiency, better patient outcomes, and professional development opportunities. Provide clear examples and real-world scenarios where the technology has succeeded in similar healthcare settings. Encourage involvement by offering training sessions and hands-on demonstrations to build confidence.

To manage resistance, understand your team's fears about change and job security. Listen and empathize with their concerns to create a supportive environment. Address their worries directly, reassuring them and showing how new technology benefits both staff and patients.

As with most things in life, it comes down to "what's in it for me". There's some things we do for the better of the organization and not necessarily the person (some of the HR processes and tasks). If that's the case, say it! Not every new technology and solution is going to save everyone time/money/effort. It may be good for one stakeholder and not the other. A simple, "we're doing this because it benefits our team members in another division even though it's going to take us a bit of time" is better than "check out how cool this new tool is"! And, if it does help them, show them. "This is how it's helping me". "Here's what I used to do and here's what I do now, and now is so much better". Show, and tell.

Vision communication is key to drive teams engagement. This will set a clear and ambitious goal for your team to pursue and be proud of.

To overcome resistance to new healthcare technology, emphasize comprehensive training and ongoing support for your team. Assure them of tailored training that accommodates various learning styles and proficiency levels. Designate tech-savvy team members as champions to support their peers. This approach shows your commitment to their success and competence, reducing fears of incompetence and fostering a smoother transition.

Adequate training is crucial for successful technology adoption. Reassure your team of comprehensive training and ongoing support to ease fears. Tailor training to different learning styles and appoint tech-savvy champions to assist peers. This demonstrates commitment to their success and reduces anxiety.

As a nurse CEO of a tech company, I've found pilots invaluable for both organizations. They allow us to test new technology before full implementation. Understand that the tech company has made educated guesses to address broad industry challenges, but they may not align perfectly with your organization's specifics. During the pilot, reassess your staff's tasks and workflows that the technology may enhance or replace. Pilots also help inform the tech company of your unique needs, ensuring the solution can be adopted meaningfully. Additionally, involving key staff to provide feedback boosts adoption and engagement.

Implementing pilot programs eases new technology adoption. Start with a small group to test systems before full rollout, allowing your team to see the technology in action. Feedback from early adopters helps refine processes and demonstrates the technology's efficacy and user-friendliness.

To overcome resistance to new healthcare technology, involve your team actively in the implementation process. Establish a feedback loop where they can share experiences, suggest improvements, and report difficulties. This inclusive approach helps refine the technology and fosters a sense of ownership among team members. Feeling heard and involved can turn skepticism into advocacy, making them integral to the success of the technology adoption.

Create a feedback loop to involve your team actively in implementation. Encourage sharing experiences, suggesting improvements, and reporting difficulties. This inclusive approach fine-tunes the technology and fosters a sense of ownership. Feeling heard transforms skepticism into advocacy, making team members part of the solution.

In my experience, establishing a feedback loop is essential to overcoming resistance to new healthcare technology. Actively involve your team by encouraging them to share their experiences, suggest improvements, and report difficulties. This approach not only helps in refining the technology but also fosters a sense of ownership among team members. When they feel heard and involved, skepticism often turns into advocacy. By integrating their input into the implementation process, you create a collaborative environment where team members are more likely to embrace and support the new technology, seeing themselves as integral to its success.

To overcome resistance to new healthcare technology, consider implementing changes incrementally instead of overhauling systems overnight. This approach allows your team to adjust gradually and build confidence with each step. Celebrate small successes to boost morale and demonstrate progress. Incremental change reduces overwhelm, facilitates learning, and promotes smoother transitions, ensuring your team embraces new technology with greater acceptance and readiness.