Better technology needed to improve patient outcomes: survey

More than two-thirds (77%) of Australian healthcare IT decision-makers believe organisations need to invest in new or better technology to improve patient outcomes.

This is according to new research from SOTI, Code Digital: Will Healthcare Thrive or Survive, which further reveals that 98% of organisations have considered incorporating AI into patient care, or have already done so.

The survey spanned 1450 IT decision-makers across Australia (150), the US (200), Canada (150), Mexico (150), the UK (200), Germany (150), France (150), Sweden (150) and the Netherlands (150).

Research found that healthcare staff are losing an average of four hours a week, per employee, due to technical or system difficulties associated with poorly managed devices and IT infrastructure. Additionally, over one-quarter (29%) of IT professionals estimated that each employee now loses more than five hours per week, affecting the quality of patient care.

“Over half (57%) of Australian healthcare organisations regularly experience issues with IoT and telehealth devices, resulting in delays in patient care. This issue significantly impacts overall health outcomes,” said Michael Dyson, VP of Sales & Marketing, APAC at SOTI.

“Without adopting advanced technologies, we risk delaying critical care, mismanaging patient data and hindering communication among healthcare providers.”

Addressing the remote support gap

While the rates of telehealth usage rise, legacy IT issues prevent 26% of healthcare organisations from supporting devices remotely, the survey suggests. This impacts the ability to modernise day-to-day operations.

“Additionally, 81% of IT decision-makers believe their organisations would benefit from more interconnected medical devices. Despite the rapid growth in the number and complexity of devices, healthcare infrastructure and management processes have not kept pace. In fact, 53% admitted to relying on outdated technology. This diminishes the ability to leverage the potential of telehealth technologies and the data they contain,” said SOTI in a statement.

Research also shows that artificial intelligence (AI) can be a key driver for enabling medical staff to treat more patients, with 79% of organisations in support of using AI in patient care to simplify tasks. Despite the strong interest in using AI to support patient care, the survey reveals a significant hurdle — 54% of IT decision-makers feel anxious about using AI in patient care and 65% believe it poses a threat to patient privacy.

“AI and machine learning can improve the efficiency and effectiveness of patient care, automating updates to patient records with greater accuracy and speeding up the generation of treatment plans. This allows medical staff to focus more on direct patient care, thereby increasing the number of patients that can be treated,” Dyson said.

“It’s evident that there is a need for clearer technological roadmaps and more effective strategies to fully leverage AI and machine learning to enhance patient treatment capacity.”

Security concerns escalate

Managing the security of shared devices and data security are growing concerns within the healthcare sector, with 39% of professionals citing one or other as their primary worry, the survey found. This apprehension is mirrored by a rise in data-related incidents. With 84% of respondents stating that their organisation experienced one or more data breaches, leaks or ransomware attacks since 2022. Additionally, over half (53%) said this was a breach from an outside source and 43% said it was a DDoS ransomware attack, SOTI said.

“Our research shows that 39% of respondents believe outdated IT systems heighten their vulnerability to cyber attacks — a direct correlation to the rate of data breaches and security threats. These security vulnerabilities should motivate healthcare providers to prioritise technological upgrades. Preventing costly data breaches and protecting sensitive patient information is vital, as any compromise can severely damage trust in healthcare systems,” Dyson said.

To address data security risks in the healthcare sector, organisations must prioritise robust device management solutions, SOTI said. “These solutions offer comprehensive visibility, strong security protections and the capability to remotely manage and secure devices. Moreover, organisations can gain real-time visibility into the field, to support data-driven decision-making. It is crucial for IT decision-makers to understand how devices are used in operations, and to be proactive in addressing issues quickly and efficiently,” said the company in a statement.

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