In our previous blog, we explored where the biggest savings in patient flow management come from: smarter use of staff time, more effective self-service, and leveraging data. But how do you make sure these benefits aren't just numbers on a slide, but real, lasting improvements that continue to grow year after year?

When introducing a new patient flow management system like Axel Encounter, attention often turns to the most visible change: self check-in. And for good reason. It saves time and resources, eases the daily routine, and improves the patient experience. However, the full savings potential is much greater than just smoother check-in. When we analyzed one customer's current process step-by-step before implementing Encounter, one insight stood out: the greatest savings come from how and where professionals' time is used, and how data is utilized in daily operations.

After triage, the greatest challenge in the emergency department is managing the transition to the next stage of care. Digital tools automate the call-in process and communication during wait times, so professionals don't have to spend time searching for patients in waiting areas. This improves turnaround times and allows staff to focus on clinical work. 

How can emergency unit visits be accelerated? Digital transformation in healthcare and automation provide the answer: they streamline patient flow, reduce manual work, and improve the patient experience by offering clear guidance from the entrance. Automation can reduce check-in times to an average of just 17 seconds, removing bottlenecks from critical care paths. 

In healthcare, one of the biggest challenges has always been the organization of diagnostics and treatment of contagious diseases in hospitals and health centers. It’s effective to focus complex healthcare actions requiring a lot of professionals and equipment under one roof. At the same time, because of this way of organizing, a large number of people having an infectious disease, such as influenza or Covid-19, may be sitting in the same waiting room. In that room, one patient can expose many other people to the disease, although a health center should be a place to seek cure for illnesses, not the other way around.

After being stuck at our homes for the first half of the year avoiding human contact, we’ve all experienced a growing need to be in physical contact with each other. During the hot summer days, beaches, restaurants and nightclubs have been filled with happy people. Mentally, the summer has been good for many of us but the contact with other people has had a negative impact on the management of the corona pandemic.