In September 2021, CMS released an assessment of the 5 greatest threats hospitals face. 2 years later, that list is very much unchanged. Below are those five common hospital IT problems that healthcare organizations were/are still facing:

1. Cybersecurity Threats and Data Breaches: Hospitals and healthcare systems continue to be prime targets for cyberattacks due to the sensitive patient data they possess. Ransomware attacks, data breaches, and other forms of cyber threats can compromise patient records, disrupt operations, and result in substantial financial losses.
2. Interoperability Challenges: Ensuring seamless data exchange among different electronic health record (EHR) systems and healthcare applications remains a significant challenge. Lack of interoperability hinders efficient patient care coordination, leads to duplicate tests and procedures, and can contribute to medical errors.
3. Legacy Systems and Infrastructure: Many hospitals still rely on outdated legacy systems and technology infrastructure. These systems can be difficult and expensive to maintain and upgrade, and they might not integrate well with newer applications or meet modern security standards.
4. Provider Burnout and EHR Usability: While electronic health record (EHR) systems offer many benefits, they can also contribute to provider burnout if not designed and implemented effectively. Poor EHR usability, excessive documentation requirements, and workflow disruptions can lead to frustration and reduced efficiency among healthcare staff.
5. Patient Data Privacy and Consent Management: As patient data becomes increasingly digitized and shared across various systems, ensuring compliance with privacy regulations such as HIPAA and GDPR becomes more complex. Hospitals must navigate consent management, data sharing agreements, and patient data access rights to maintain patient privacy and compliance.

It’s important to recognize that the challenges faced by hospital IT departments are constantly evolving due to advances in technology, regulatory changes, and shifts in healthcare delivery models. To get the most accurate and up-to-date information on current hospital IT problems, we keep abreast of recent industry reports, news articles, and are constantly engaging with professionals in the healthcare IT field.

Each facility faces its own unique challenges. It’s our goal to help you find the right solution!