Healthcare IT professionals increasingly expect that the use of mobile devices will improve access to patient data and transform healthcare delivery in the U.S., according to a new survey from HIMSS Analytics.
In its second annual HIMSS Mobile Technology Survey, the society reported that half of surveyed IT professionals believe that mobile technology will substantially impact patient care delivery. An additional 16% indicated that mobile technology will dramatically change the future of healthcare delivery, according to HIMSS.
The survey covered IT professionals from major U.S. hospital systems. The group identified pharmacy management or care facilitation across the healthcare continuum as the areas where mobile technology was most likely to benefit patient care.
Physicians are increasingly using mobile devices to view patient information or access nonprotected health information, according to HIMSS Analytics. The number of clinicians using apps to actively engage in direct patient care in several areas has also increased:
- Collection of data at the bedside: up from 30% in 2011 to 45% in 2012
- The use of barcode readers on mobile devices: up from 23% in 2011 to 38% in 2012
- Monitoring data from medical devices: up from 27% in 2011 to 34% in 2012
- The capture of visual representation of patient data: up from 13% in 2011 to 27% in 2012
In patient-oriented developments, HIMSS Analytics found that healthcare organizations are increasingly providing patients with access to mobile devices to promote healthcare. For example, 36% reported allowing patients to access information using a mobile device, an increase from 32% in 2011. Only 13%, however, said that their organizations had developed an app for patient use.
Funding levels and concerns over the security of patient data were identified as barriers to the adoption of mobile devices.
HIMSS Analytics noted that healthcare organizations are taking steps to protect data accessed with mobile devices, including the nearly universal use of passwords and data encryption technologies. Limits are also being implemented regarding the data that can be stored on mobile devices; 83% of IT professionals said that the devices used by their clinicians do not retain patient-specific information.
The use of mobile devices will continue to expand, with three-quarters of survey respondents indicating they will expand the use of these devices in the future. The use of tablet computers is projected to have the greatest growth, HIMSS Analytics said.
In other survey results, respondents continue to characterize their mobile maturity as average, while one-quarter reported that all data captured via mobile devices is integrated directly into their organization's electronic health record (EHR). Furthermore, nearly all IT professionals stated that their organization supplies mobile devices to clinicians to support day-to-day work activities.
In addition, two-thirds reported that their organization has a mobile technology plan in place, up from 38% in 2011. Twenty-seven percent are currently implementing a mobile technology plan, according to HIMSS Analytics.
The Web- and telephone-based survey covered 180 IT professionals in October and November 2012; all participants were required to have some role in their organization's mobile technology environment.
