Introduction to Healthcare IT Challenges
As healthcare organizations rush to adopt artificial intelligence (AI), cloud computing, and other advanced technologies, their underlying network infrastructure may not be able to meet these tools’ requirements. A new HIMSS Market Insights survey reveals the scope of this challenge: two in three healthcare leaders cite infrastructure limitations as a major barrier to achieving their care delivery goals.
The Shift in Healthcare IT
This finding underscores a critical shift in healthcare IT. Infrastructure must transition from a background function to a strategic enabler of modern healthcare delivery. This transformation is starkly evident in the contrast between healthcare organizations’ basic and emerging technology capabilities. While 88% of organizations surveyed report that their infrastructure fully supports electronic health records and 78% can handle patient portals, only 18% say they’re ready to deploy AI in care delivery.
The Need for Infrastructure Support
“Healthcare organizations currently don’t have adequate infrastructure support for where care delivery technologies are headed,” said Jill Brewer, the HIMSS Market Insights lead in charge of the study. “They are going to need the right infrastructure in place to fully support these technologies.” Such a reactive approach, however, is unsustainable. “This ends up hindering clinical decision making and negatively impacts patient experience and care delivery timing — the opposite of what you want in patient care,” she said.
Strategic Partnerships and Infrastructure Needs
The research also reveals that strategic partnerships with technology vendors have become crucial for addressing critical infrastructure needs. Two-thirds of organizations report that legacy system integration issues and high upgrade costs are major barriers to IT infrastructure modernization, while 70% express security and compliance concerns. “[Healthcare organizations] want a really nice symbiotic relationship with vendors so that they can decrease risks while also being successful with vendors’ technology and solutions,” Brewer noted.
Challenges in Infrastructure Scalability and Interoperability
Network infrastructure scalability has emerged as a critical determinant of organizational success, revealing significant systemic challenges. Nearly a third of organizations struggle with scalability, indicating a fundamental mismatch between current architectures and growing demands. Interoperability limitations affecting almost half of organizations suggest widespread technology fragmentation. Most telling, however, is that 60% of respondents face expertise shortages. This indicates that technical complexity has outpaced workforce development, creating a human capital gap that technology alone cannot solve.
A Path to Future-Proof Network Infrastructure
The path forward requires a significant shift from reactive to proactive infrastructure management. “[Organizations must] take a hard look at their priorities and find the best ways to utilize their budgets,” Brewer said. This means evaluating current infrastructure against future needs while building strategic partnerships that can foster sustainable growth. As healthcare organizations continue to adopt new technologies, from AI to internet-connected devices, network infrastructure must be able to meet emerging technologies’ demands.
Conclusion
Success in healthcare IT will depend on building scalable, efficient systems that can effectively implement these solutions while maintaining performance and controlling costs. For many organizations, however, this transformation can’t wait; their future competitiveness depends on it. By understanding the challenges and adopting a proactive approach to infrastructure management, healthcare organizations can ensure they are well-equipped to handle the demands of emerging technologies and provide the best possible care for their patients.
FAQs
- What is the main challenge healthcare organizations face in adopting new technologies?
- The main challenge is that their underlying network infrastructure may not be able to meet the requirements of these new technologies.
- Why is infrastructure important in healthcare IT?
- Infrastructure is crucial as it must transition from a background function to a strategic enabler of modern healthcare delivery.
- What percentage of healthcare organizations report being ready to deploy AI in care delivery?
- Only 18% of organizations say they’re ready to deploy AI in care delivery.
- What is the significance of strategic partnerships with technology vendors?
- Strategic partnerships are crucial for addressing critical infrastructure needs, such as legacy system integration issues and high upgrade costs, and for ensuring security and compliance.
- What is the primary issue with the current infrastructure in healthcare organizations?
- The primary issue is that it does not support the emerging technologies and demands of modern healthcare delivery, leading to scalability, interoperability, and expertise shortages.
