How can you navigate healthcare systems with limited resources?

I collaborate with healthcare organizations all over the world who struggle with this question every day. I first would tell them to prioritize what is the most important to them, and as more resources are available they can re-evaluate. We work together on roadmaps that are short and long-term. What excites me is new technology like artificial intelligence is truly going to change the game by decreasing cost and making data available to help them make critical decisions faster and easier. I love where healthcare is headed.

From a Nursing leader perspective it is imperative to be at the table of decision making to ensure that adequate resources are properly allocated to nursing so that patient care can be delivered at its highest level. Patient care should always remain to be the highest priority.

This is a common issue in all countries these days, more severe in some than others. The issue quite often lies in a mismatch of understanding the needs and expectations. The end goal must start with saving lives and then work its way downwards. Steps that benefit patients and offer good value for money take top priority. Finally, it's also about saving the planet. One may think they are the best specialist in the world (no one is special), but making 500 people drive diesel cars, burning fuel, when care could be provided closer to home, is not ideal. This all requires good communication and teamwork between management and clinicians. Usually, otherwise, I find one blaming the other.

COVID gave many of us the experience in how important this exercise needs to be in place, prior to the event. We were able to pivot rapidly to a virtual team in order to support all of our patients, families, and team members. Planning and preparing are essential to prioritize care.

In healthcare settings, particularly during times of resource scarcity, the prioritization of care is critical. This process, fundamentally about triaging, ensures that resources—whether they be medical supplies, human resources, or financial capital—are allocated in a manner that addresses the most urgent and severe medical needs first. This prioritization is not merely a matter of logistics or ethics; it is a crucial strategy to maximize the effectiveness of healthcare delivery in constrained environments. ### Understanding Resource Allocation Resource scarcity can arise from various situations, such as natural disasters, economic constraints

By constantly re evaluating systems and processes in place and finding the gaps that may be present. Having frequent orientation and in-service training with your Staff so everybody is included and on the same page with the regards how to better manage resources without compromising the core of our profession, that is patient care.

Collaboration is key. Healthcare worker shortages as they are, impacts allocation of resources, by way of human capital as well as services. To better meet the needs of those we serve, we must prioritize the work and utilize teams to the top of their licensure. Use of Community Health Workers to bridge the gap between social needs and clinical care must occur. Strengthening relationships with community and partners through the voice of trusted messengers builds a network of likeminded individuals ready to address whole person care and improve health outcomes, decrease health spending, improve patient experience and promote health equity. This also helps to decrease provider burnout and reduce attrition of needed healthcare employees.

Em gestão de saúde com recursos limitados vemos grandes oportunidades em melhoria de processos. Mesmo serviços renomados pecam ao subestimar o poder do fluxo de ações adequado. O primeiro passo é estudar o sistema onde se está inserido por meio de matriz simples de recurso x impacto, onde as intervenções com menor recurso e maior impacto são obviamente priorizadas. Por exemplo, num hospital com pronto-atendimento caótico o mínimo esperado para começar é um sistema de priorização de necessidades, como protocolo Manchester ou derivados. O uso de ferramentas de descoberta como design thinking e mapeamento da jornada têm baixo custo e permitem encontrar gargalos.

In our rapidly changing worked, we must stay up to date of the latest and safest technology to reach as many in need as possible. We must ensure HIPAA compliance, patients and staff comfortability with the technology, and do extensive training to ensure understanding.

Innovative technologies are very important in streamlining when you have limited resources. This is what I do for companies. We help bring in innovative technologies in the lack of hands and proficiency. The end user adoption is key here however. If people aren’t willing to adopt and adapt, the cost savings are low. We need to bring in technologies that will up scale the resources facilities currently have.

In my experience, this is key in order to deliver the highest standard of care for our communities. Collaboration has proven to provide patients with the maximum amount of support and services possible. We also need to consider diversity. When we let go of egos and focus on what is best for the patient, we will have the best outcomes.

Teaching is the cornerstone of nursing process. “See one, do one, teach one”. However, in a busy setting the quality of this essential step often gets lost. Quality in teaching comes not from the clinicians clinical expertise but from their ability to meet the patient where they are. What’s the patient’s literacy level, what is their primary language, what other competing barriers are they facing that might limit their capacity to follow the plan of care you developed? The facility needs to cognizant of their staff’s workflow and adjust or hire to allow for true quality education to take place. Otherwise it’s a waste.

Reuse disposable items. I recall infected orthopedic implants removed, re-sterilized, and implanted in a needing patient. Think back 50 years. We boil water for irrigation during prostate surgery. Thi is delivered with a home-made device.