Healthcare information executives will focus this year on complying with the Healthcare Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) and implementing e-health initiatives, according to preliminary results from the 11th annual Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society Leadership Survey, sponsored by IBM.
During the next year, 62% of provider organizations are more likely to implement Internet technologies, while 56% will upgrade systems to comply with HIPAA, according to the survey. Upgrading network infrastructure is a priority for 41% of those surveyed, and 38% of respondents will be integrating systems in a multivendor environment.
For the next two years, 70% will concentrate on HIPAA compliance, and 42% will work to develop e-health infrastructure and applications. Improving efficiency and cost-cutting efforts are a priority for the next two years for 61% and 56% of survey respondents, respectively.
The outlook for IT budgets appears cloudy. In 2000, only 63% of respondents expect an increase in financial support, compared with 72% last year. Only 30% of respondents reported that their organization's IT budgets will definitely increase, compared with 46% in 1999.
The adoption rate of computerized patient records and telehealth systems failed to show growth. The percentage of providers planning a CPR installation is 24%, almost the same as in 1999. Utilization of telehealth systems dropped drastically this year, with only 6% using them in some form. Only 14% respond that they plan to begin using telehealth in the next two years.
By AuntMinnie.com staff writers
April 10, 2000
