Healthcare IT Continues to Grow Despite Faltering Economy

Implementing clinical systems--including an electronic medical record (EMR) and computerized provider order entry systems (CPOE)--was cited as the top priority for healthcare information technology (IT) professionals, according to the results of a new survey.

The 20th Annual Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society (HIMSS, Chicago, IL, USA) leadership survey is a self-administered web-based survey that was completed by 304 participants between February 1, 2009, and March 6, 2009. Those surveyed represent 250 unique healthcare organizations and nearly 700 hospitals throughout the United States. About 80% of the respondents said they are senior IT executives at their organizations, and 62% are corporate chief information officers (CIOs). The survey found that, as in past years, security issues remain a top concern, and 84% of respondents said their organization actively assesses security risks; one in four (25%) said they had experienced a security breach during 2008. To address these risks, nearly half of the survey responders said they plan to purchase single sign-on technology in the next year, compared to 31% who said they currently have single sign-on technology. Other security technologies a third or more respondents said they plan to purchase include e-mail encryption, biometric technologies, intrusion prevention and detection services, and data encryption.

Other findings of the 20th Leadership Survey were that respondents were most likely to indicate that IT can have an impact by reducing medical errors (38%) and improving quality outcomes (24%); While 29% said sustaining financial viability was the key business objective at their organization, 24% identified patient safety and quality of care as the single key business objective; more than half (54%) said financial considerations was the business issue that would most impact on healthcare. Lack of adequate financial resources was identified by 28% of the respondents as the top barrier to successful implementation of IT. Although this has been named as the top barrier for nine years running, the percentage continues to climb; in 2008 it was cited by 26% of respondents and the year before by 20%. An overwhelming majority (84%) said there is a strong level of integration between IT strategies and overall organizational strategy.

"The economy is affecting all sectors, healthcare IT included, but the good news is healthcare IT still continues to grow,” said Charles E. Christian, HIMSS board chair. "With the passage of the ARRA [American Recovery and Reinvestment Act], the resulting billions of dollars intended to stimulate healthcare IT should certainly impact how respondents view their budget options.”

Survey respondents' answers also suggested the weakened economy has slowed the breakneck pace of growth but also that they and their organizations remain committed to healthcare IT. More than half of respondents said their IT budgets would increase, compared to 78% in 2008, and 42% said their staffing levels would increase, compared to 68% last year.

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Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society