A Digital transformation journey needs strong, open, and mature communication
By Geraldine McAloon
I have always loved technology. When I was a teenager, I wanted a PacMan game, but my Dad told me that if I wanted it I would first have to write a programme for him. Unimpressed, but really wanting that game, I did just that.
I didn’t understand the impact writing those few lines of code would have on my life, but not because I became a programmer. It was the start of my passion for technology that has led me to where I am today.
Today, we are surrounded by technology in every part of our lives. Our telephones now enable us to do so much more than speak to people: they enable us to be a photographer; record and listen to music, and access information and services anywhere in the world. The car I drive is full of tech, with more computing power than there was in the rocket that took the first man to the moon. My house has enough gadgets to mean that whatever I need is only ever a click away.
If that explains why I work in a technology company, the reason I work in healthcare technology, and am passionate about it, is simple. It gives me the chance to work in an industry that fundamentally touches all our lives.
Each of us encounters health services at some point in our lives. Whether it is as a patient, as a carer or observing our family, friends, or colleagues, we all see the positive impact that high quality healthcare has on our own lives and those that we love. Unfortunately, we sometimes see the consequences when care goes wrong but we are seeing the positive impactdigital technology can make, for example the significant reduction in medication errors as a result of the implementation of electronic medication management.
Front-line healthcare staff do amazing jobs, often at the point of crisis for a person, making life and death decisions about patient care and treatment. What we have seen over the last twelve months during the COVID-19 pandemic has reinforced our respect and admiration for what they do, whether in treating the seriously ill or rolling out the vaccine across the country.
Ultimately, I want to make sure that these people have the tools that they need to do their job to the best of their ability. I want to make sure they have the most up-to-date information about their patient, tools that help them make the right clinical decisions about treatment and that help them deliver that care safely and effectively, wherever and whenever it is being delivered.
I don’t think this is too much to ask and the last twelve months have proved that digital tools can be rapidly implemented, can have a positive impact on how care is delivered and on outcomes for patients. My job is about helping my customers find the right technology to support their work.
Sales is about understanding what people want and need. It’s about working together with people, identifying answers to real challenges, creating a narrative about how the solution will make a difference and developing an ongoing relationship. Fundamentally, it’s about building and maintaining trust.
“People buy from people” is a cliché that we have all heard, but I truly believe it is true. It takes investment of time and respect on both sides, a willingness to share highs and, in some cases, lows. But above all it requires communication.
As we look beyond the pandemic, my hope is we don’t lose the momentum that has built up over the past year in the adoption of digital tools in healthcare. The move to Dedalus is exciting. I am now part of an organisation whose driving passion is to develop digital tools that will enable everyone in the healthcare ecosystem to work together and deliver the best possible health outcomes for everyone. Our European heritage means that our ethos is grounded in socialised healthcare systems. Our global reach gives us real insight into how other systems are addressing the challenges that we are facing in UK and Ireland along with the scale that enables us to execute large projects in extremely complex environments.
Finally, our purpose as Dedalus is simple: to be our clients’ preferred partner on their digital transformation journey, and that requires strong, open and mature communication.
About Geraldine McAloon
Geraldine is our UK and Ireland Sales Manager. She has been working in Information Technology for 25 years. The past 10 years have been spent working in Healthcare Technology roles for EMIS Health and DXC and now leading UK and Ireland sales for Dedalus.