Workflow technology: the new frontier. How to overcome the barriers and join the future.

Hospitals are catching up to the business world in the introduction of technology systems that support professional practice and workflow. The field of case management is highly complex and interrelates with diverse groups in diverse locations. The last few years have seen the introduction of Workflow Technology Tools, which can improve the quality and efficiency of discharge planning by the case manager. Despite the availability of these wonderful new programs, many case managers are hesitant to adopt the new technology and workflow. For a myriad of reasons, a computer-based workflow system can seem like a brick wall. This article discusses, from a practitioner's point of view, how professionals can gain confidence and skill to get around the brick wall and join the future.