By Christine Kern,
A survey shows healthcare providers still have far to go in enhancing security, application performance, and investment in the cloud.
Though many providers have made strides in the implementation of cloud, Big Data, mobile, and social technologies, a full 96 percent of healthcare organizations report their infrastructure is not fully prepared for the evolution of the electronic medical record (EMR) today according to a report released by MeriTalk.
The new study, FutureCare: Cloud, Big Data, Mobile, and Social Optimize the EMR, sponsored by EMC Corporation, explores how FutureCare-enabling technologies are changing how healthcare organizations can leverage those technologies to optimize EMRs for improved patient care coordination.
The report, which surveyed 151 hospital IT executives in August 2014, found that two-thirds of providers already use run cloud-based HER applications, with almost half (49 percent) adopting private cloud technology and 35 percent utilizing hybrid or public technology. Other findings of the report include:
- almost 50 percent use Big Data to reduce readmission rates and track patient outcomes; others use Big Data to conduct cost-benefit analyses
- 38 percent use Big Data to manage IT and clinical staffing levels
- 46 percent use Big Data to reduce project risks
- 24 percent use Big Data to prescribe preventive care
The study also examined the use of mobile and social technologies, finding that fifty-seven percent of health IT leaders say mobile has become an important tool in viewing real-time patient information as part of informed patient care decisions. Fifty-four percent of organizations are also using social in conjunction with their EMR to facilitate secure collaboration and 31 percent are collecting data from wearable technology. According to the report, among providers that lack integration in their health IT infrastructure:
- 47 percent plan to upgrade their security systems
- 38 percent plan to improve application performance
- 31 percent plan to invest in cloud technologies
- 31 percent plan to modernize their backup and recovery systems
In addition, many providers expect 2015 IT spending to increase for big data, cloud technologies, mobile health and social media, potentially generating savings in 2016. Specifically, providers expect:
- Big Data can help them save 21 percent of their annual IT budget, or $7.2B
- Cloud can help them save 20 percent of their annual IT budget, or $6.9B
- Mobile can help them save 16 percent of their annual IT budget, or $5.5B
- Social can help them save 11 percent of their annual IT budget, or $3.8B
“It’s clear that cloud, Big Data, mobile, and social technologies can positively impact patient care delivery, population health, and achieve improved levels of fiscal efficiency,” says David DeAngelis, healthcare general manager, EMC Corporation.
“Accurate diagnosis is the first step on the journey to a cure,” said Steve O’Keeffe, founder, MeriTalk. “The healthcare industry needs to change its IT diet to ensure better healthcare outcomes for America.”
