Change Management Support for Health Care RFID Adoption

New IT initiatives often fail due to lack of preparedness for cultural change. Disgruntled staff can be a major hindrance to the successful integration of new technology or processes into any organization. RFID adoption in the health care environment is no exception.

While RFID can improve competitiveness, streamline and automate information processing and eliminate human error – among many other advantages – its implementation is in danger of being a failure, or at the very least a sketchy venture, if the end-users are not on board.

Employees must be introduced to change in a gradual, non-threatening and transparent manner to minimize resistance. Emphasis must be shifted from bureaucracy and hierarchy in the organization to include all stakeholders, and end-users must be included in the process in order for it to prosper.

The process of acculturation occurs when two or more cultures amalgamate in a way that changes the culture patterns of both original groups. The five stages of acculturation need to be fostered in the adoption of new technology in order to mitigate the inevitable. Facilitating the stages and addressing the issues that arise at each stage is useful to usher in RFID in health care facilities with optimal results. The stages are as follows:

Initiation – introduction of the technology
Fascination – seeing the benefits of integrating the technology
Disenchantment – annoyance of and resistance to the changes
Mental Isolation – wishing to return to the familiar system
Adjustment and recovery – acceptance of the new system

DCC’s Change Management Support (CMS) offering addresses each stage and incorporates them in the implementation of RFID into health care environments. By facilitating informational workshops, we establish the groundwork for a successful undertaking.
We understand that organizational change is difficult. We provide a positive experience for management and staff by providing CMS for all involved. CMS is a channel for education, communication and transparency that minimizes end-user resistance to ensure optimal results of RFID implementation. Download PDF

For more information on CMS and RFID in Health Care, contact DCC at 866-257-2111.

Sources of acculturation definitions:

Managing emerging technology and organizational transformation: An acculturative analysis by Pan, L.P.; Pan, G & Devadoss, P.R. 2008

The Assessment of Acculturation in The Multicultural handbook for School Psychologists. Erlbaum Assoc. NY 2006