A 2012 survey conducted for the Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society (HIMSS) found that:
- 89% of clinicians use laptops,
- 53% use smartphones,
- 49% use cell phones,
- 47% use tablet computers, and
- 52% believe mobile technology will “substantially impact the delivery of healthcare.”
When asked to rank on a 0-to-5 scale their areas of concern about deploying mobile technology in healthcare enterprises, the following results were tabulated:
- 4.57: “Privacy/Security of Patient Data,”
- 4.20: “Speed of Accessing Data,”
- 3.98: “Screen Resolution/Fidelity,”
- 3.74: “Ability of IT to Support Device,”
- 2.70: “Devices are Not Medically Durable.”
Contrast those findings to the responses of 30 chief-medical and -financial officers of healthcare-provider and -payer enterprises who ranked barriers to deployment of mobile technology in healthcare settings as:
- 71.10%: “Lack of funding/budget tolls,”
- 51.70%: “Lack of IT staff,”
- 49.49%: “Immaturity of vendors in the market,”
- 42.80%: “Inadequate privacy and security,”
- 42.20%: “Lack of standards/inoperability,”
- 41.70%: “Limited incentives for use,”
- 38.90%: “Lack of expertise on staff,”
- 32.20%: “Challenges regarding wireless capabilities,”
- 30.00%: “Clinician resistance to technology,”
- 18.90%: “Doesn’t fit into workflow,”
- 18.30%: “Lack of executive support.”
Although this recent survey indicates that more respondents than not are already using mobile devices in some aspect of their work, these overall results can still seem pessimistic until you factor in that they are reactions to the prospect of introduction of consumer-grade devices into the day-to-day work flows of healthcare providers as opposed to greater use of industrial-grade devices. Concerns about such issues as durability, security, susceptibility to IT support, and the like seem more prudent and practical than pessimistic.
Fortunately, Advantech is ahead of the curve in the delivery of medical-grade mobile technology to healthcare enterprises with such devices as its MICA-101 10.4-inch Fanless Mobile Clinical Assistant. The MICA-101 features the convenience of touch operation combined with the enhanced accuracy of digital pen recognition and is IP54-certified against dust and water infiltration. It integrates a camera and RFID reader for definitive patient and asset identification and is also available with an image-based barcode scanner, webcam and finger-print reader. More importantly, it’s compact, lightweight, and comfortable to carry and operate thanks to its contoured ergonomic design and integrated carry handle.
Advantech’s more modular DMS-SR06 9.7-inch Fanless Medical Tablet PC is highly anticipated, delivering the many advantages of mobile technology in a form that also answers the durability, compatibility and usability concerns of healthcare professionals. While consumer-grade mobile devices will undoubtedly play an increasing role in the future of healthcare enterprises just as they are doing in most other aspects of our lives, Advantech is delivering medical-grade, work-ready mobile devices today.