In the face of ever-growing demands and challenges, healthcare efficiency has become a critical focus for the NHS. While digital transformation often takes centre stage, print management is an often-overlooked area with significant potential for improvement. Advanced print management solutions can address key challenges faced by healthcare providers, delivering tangible benefits.
The real-world success of Liverpool Women's NHS Foundation Trust (LWH) with Lexmark’s innovative print management solutions highlights the potential impact. At LWH, these solutions led to a 30% reduction in total devices, a 70% reduction in print-related spend, and a 20% reduction in overall print volumes.
The Hidden Costs of Inefficient Print Management
Many healthcare organisations struggle with outdated print infrastructures that drain resources and hinder productivity. Uncontrolled printing leads to excessive paper waste, high operational costs, security vulnerabilities in document handling, and inefficient workflows that slow down patient care. Implementing innovative print management solutions can transform these pain points into opportunities for enhanced efficiency and cost savings.
Reducing Paper Waste and Operational Costs
Smart Managed Print Services (MPS) offer a comprehensive approach to optimising print environments. By consolidating devices and implementing intelligent print release systems, healthcare organisations can dramatically reduce unnecessary printing and associated costs. Benefits include a reduced environmental footprint, improved space utilisation in clinical areas, and simplified supply chain management for consumables.
Enhancing Data Security and Compliance
With increasing cyber threats and stringent data protection regulations, secure print management is critical. Modern print management solutions incorporate robust security features to safeguard sensitive patient information. These include secure print release requiring user authentication, end-to-end encryption of print jobs, comprehensive audit trails for compliance reporting, and automatic hard drive wiping on device decommissioning. These measures ensure that healthcare providers can maintain the confidentiality and integrity of patient data throughout the print lifecycle.
Integrating Digital and Physical Document Workflows
The healthcare sector's journey towards digital transformation requires solutions that bridge the gap between paper-based and digital processes. Point of Care Scanning solutions enable direct scanning of patient documents at the point of care, automate document classification and indexing, and integrate seamlessly with existing Electronic Patient Record (EPR) systems. By digitising paper documents at the source, healthcare providers can accelerate information flow, reduce errors, and improve patient care delivery.
Measurable Impact: Beyond Cost Savings
While the financial benefits of smart print management are significant, the impact extends far beyond the balance sheet. Improved staff productivity through streamlined workflows, enhanced patient experience with faster document processing, strengthened data security and regulatory compliance, and support for broader digital transformation initiatives are among the additional benefits.
As healthcare continues its journey towards digital transformation, innovative print management solutions will play a crucial role in bridging the gap between paper-based legacy systems and fully digital workflows. Organisations that embrace these solutions position themselves to deliver more efficient, secure, and patient-centric care.
Case Study: Liverpool Women's NHS Foundation Trust
Liverpool Women's NHS Foundation Trust (LWH) is a prime example of the impact of advanced print management solutions. As a specialist provider in women's and babies' health, LWH recognised the need to overhaul its existing expensive and unmanaged print fleet to reduce costs, eliminate waste, and support a drive towards digital working practices. By implementing a comprehensive Managed Print Services solution, Lexmark helped LWH achieve a 30% reduction in total devices, a 70% reduction in print-related spend, and a 20% reduction in overall print volumes. This transformation delivered significant cost savings and aligned with the trust's sustainability goals by reducing paper waste and energy consumption. Additionally, the implementation of secure print release solutions enhanced data protection and compliance efforts.
Embracing Change for a More Efficient Future
As healthcare providers face increasing pressure to deliver high-quality care while managing costs, innovative print management solutions offer a tangible way to drive efficiency and improve service delivery. By addressing the often-overlooked area of print infrastructure, organisations can unlock significant benefits that ripple across their operations. The time for transformation is now. As demands on healthcare services intensify, smart print management can play a crucial role in building a more efficient, secure, and sustainable future for healthcare delivery.
Image credit: iStock
![[Left to right] Prof. Ronan Killeen - Consultant Radiologist at St. Vincent's Private Hospital, Andy Wilks - Head of Enterprise Services for Siemens Healthineers Great Britain and Ireland, Edel O’Keeffe - Director of Finance at St. Vincent's Private Hospital, Ghada Trotabas - Managing Director of Siemens Healthineers Great Britain and Ireland, Brian Fitzgerald - Chief Executive Officer of St. Vincent's Private Hospital with Grania Heal – Country Head for Ireland at Siemens Healthineers, and Rob Ruttledge](/sites/nhe/files/styles/teaser/public/2024-09/Press%20release%20image-24.jpg?itok=gHKP-rtG)
