From The Editor | January 6, 2012

Bracing For Healthcare's Mobile Explosion

Ken Congdon, Editor In Chief of Health IT Outcomes

By Ken Congdon, editor in chief, Health IT Outcomes

Most analyst forecasts are calling for unprecedented growth in the use of mobile technologies in the healthcare industry in 2012, and there’s plenty of data to support this prediction. For example:

 

  • 80% of doctors in the U.S. use smartphones and medical apps in some capacity in their daily practice of medicine.
  • According to a CompTIA study, nearly one-third of healthcare providers use mobile devices (tablet computers, laptops, smartphones, etc.) to access EMR/EHR systems.
  • 30% of practicing physicians have already purchased an iPad, and 28% plan to do so within the next six months.

 

The use of mobile technology is being viewed as a way to increase clinical multitasking and productivity, while improving the overall patient experience. However, while the promise of mobilizing health data is great, so are the potential risks — particularly as it relates to PHI (protected health information). For example, while most healthcare facilities are quick to adopt mobile devices, few are taking the steps necessary to ensure these devices are secure. This point is illustrated by a recent study by Ponemon Institute. This research shows that 81% of the 300 respondents interviewed leverage mobile devices to collect, store, and/or transmit PHI, yet only 49% have secured those devices.

Mobile devices are also being used by clinicians and other healthcare professionals as a means to communicate with patients and promote services via social media, SMS messaging, and email. As this trend continues to increase, so will the risk of PHI exposure. The reason? Most healthcare organizations fail to develop plans or policies for these electronic outbound communications. Failure to address these issues can lead to patient vulnerabilities, data breaches, and stiff penalties.

These factors are not meant to deter healthcare providers from adopting mobile devices. To the contrary, my hope is that by knowing these truths, healthcare providers will make a concerted effort to implement mobile technologies responsibly and securely. Doing so will require providers to balance usability, preferences, security, and budgetary requirements. At the same time, providers should draft and enforce written terms of use with employees and contractors using mobile devices and applications at work.