Clinical communication and collaboration has always been critical to ensuring the delivery of timely, quality patient care. The COVID-19 pandemic further highlighted the importance of both, providing insights of how providers can apply new strategies and technology for better patient outcomes. 

As the pandemic evolved, an added strain was placed on Emergency Departments (ED) with the need to isolate COVID-19 patients from those seeking emergent care and non-COVID-19 care. Minimizing time spent in the emergency department or bypassing the ED altogether along with the suspension of at-hospital elective care became a priority. This caused a shift in the traditional patient journey. There was a heightened interest in virtual assessments and notification systems to improve the flow of patients through emergency departments. 

The three case studies outlined in this brief, highlight how technology is being applied in new ways to support the patient journey from pre-arrival to departure.