Dive Brief:
- According to a new HIMSS Analytics Mobile Technology Survey, the health care industry is still coming to terms with the benefits and risks of mobile technology.
- The study found that just more than half of providers (59%) said they had a mobile plan in place, while 29% said they were in the process of putting one together.
- Most policies had to do with data security, and providers varied widely in how to use mobile devices for care delivery. Many still aren't sold on mobile's benefits: Just more than one-third of providers thought mHealth tools would "substantially or dramatically" impact care, down from the two-thirds that thought so a year ago.
Dive Insight:
While mobile devices are ripe with possibilities for care, this study suggests that providers aren't sure how to leverage those possibilities. In fact, the drop in confidence since last year suggests that providers are feeling less confident the more pervasive mobile technology gets. However, it seems likely that providers will indeed find ways to expedite care using mobile health technology; there's just too many positive things that can happen to ignore it.