Healthcare in Europe loses several working days due to inefficient printers
June 26, 2024
Healthcare workers in Europe statistically lose several million working days per year due to inefficient or maintenance-intensive printers, according to a survey of 3,400 doctors and nurses with patient contact conducted on behalf of Epson in countries in Europe, the Middle East and Africa.
At a time of growing skills shortages and lengthening waiting lists in the healthcare sector, the survey shows a connection between unsuitable IT technology and reduced productivity.
- Almost all respondents (93%) said they lost time due to slow or defective printers and multifunction systems.
- A quarter (26%) estimate the loss at up to 30 minutes and 16% say it is even around an hour.
- About 6% said they lost up to four hours per week.
- 95% responded that this had a negative impact and led to delays, difficulties in sharing information (for 44%), revising patient data (for 39%) or making appointments (for 35%).
- Almost a third (32%) said that this led to complaints from patients.
- As a result, 81% of healthcare workers surveyed believe more should be done to ensure time is not wasted on inferior technology.
- Another 79% noted that although time is wasted at work due to broken or slow printers, little action is taken.
It is therefore not surprising that 89% believe that their IT department should provide printers and multifunction devices that are fast and low-maintenance in order to reduce downtime.
Environmental concerns also play a role: 80% of respondents said that they were concerned about the environmental impact of unsustainable printers. 76% also confirmed that this was a major concern for their company.
James Osborne of Epson Europe said: “The issue is clear. Many may assume that printers play a secondary role in the work of patient-facing staff. But this is far from the truth. Inappropriate, outdated IT technology also impacts on patients.
“Many companies could benefit from simply switching from laser printers to inkjet printers with Heat-Free Technology. Compared to laser printers, Epson inkjet printers have fewer wearing parts that need to be replaced during the device’s service life. This means that maintenance requirements are lower and productivity and user satisfaction are improved.”
The survey, commissioned by Epson, was conducted by independent market research firm Coleman Parkes among 3,400 healthcare workers in 28 countries between July and November 2023. The survey focused on Europe, the Middle East and Africa.
Categories : World Focus
Tags : Epson Europe Healthcare Printers Survey
