What it’s all about
Practice management comparisons show that German GPs and specialists who introduce digital solutions in their practices are dissatisfied with the effects. Some even complain that, contrary to expectations, this even leads to a permanent increase in workload. The reason for this is the under-appreciated phenomenon of the digital readiness gap.
The digital readiness gap
The term describes the critical gap between the introduction of technologies and the necessary basic efficiency that must already be in place as a prerequisite for digital solutions to deliver their intended benefits. It underlines the need to eliminate underlying organizational inefficiencies before digital tools can be effectively implemented.
The practice management insufficiency
In German GP and specialist practices, however, only about half of the best practice standards of practice management are currently implemented. This validated guideline includes all regulations, instruments and behaviors that are essential for the smooth running of a practice. This means that the structural and process quality in many medical practices is suboptimal, which is referred to as practice management insufficiency.
Lack of systemic concepts
Digitization solutions cannot be used effectively in such inefficient processes as they reinforce existing problems or create new inefficiencies. In addition, practice owners tend to digitize individual processes in isolation without systemically considering the overall structure of practice management and all associated areas of activity. This leads to a lack of integration and compatibility, which in turn requires manual workarounds or insufficiently automated solutions to close the gaps. As a result, more time and resources are required to correct errors and ensure quality than before digitalization.
Conclusion
Successful digitalization always requires a holistic approach, in which the existing structures and processes must initially be analysed and aligned with best practice standards.
Literature on the topic
(All titles are only available in German language)
- Thill, K.-D. (2024). Benchmarking practice management for general practitioners and specialists – method, application and benefits, Berlin: Neobooks
- Kreutzer, R. T., Neugebauer, T., & Pattloch, A. (2017). Digital Business Leadership: digital transformation – business model innovation – agile organization – change management. Wiesbaden: Springer Gabler
- Schallmo, D., & Rusnjak, A. (2017). Roadmap for the digital transformation of business models. In D. Schallmo et al. (Eds.), Digital transformation of business models: Basics, instruments and best practices. Wiesbaden: Springer Gabler
- Abolhassan, F. (ed.). (2016). What drives digitization? Why there is no way around the cloud. Wiesbaden: Springer Gabler.
- Kreutzer, R. T., & Land, K. H. (2016). Digital Darwinism: The silent attack on your business model and brand. The Think!Book. Wiesbaden: Springer Gabler
- Gassmann, O., & Sutter, P. (2016). Shaping digital transformation in the company: Business models Success factors Case studies Instructions for action. Munich: Hanser
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R2049 