A December report by the Ponemon Institute found that data breaches are becoming increasingly common in the healthcare industry, with nearly a third of all organizations reporting a breach in 2011.

After applying the lessons of this business strategy tool to problems with patient care, Mercy St. Vincent’s, an Ohio-based medical center found that it was able to improve its quality by the more traditional metrics it initially turned away from.

Even though doctors have been transitioning to electronic medical records software and eprescribing tools recently, many experts say that patients are the ones who are more quickly adapting to the use of new technology for their medical care.

Over the past few years, studies have shown that while many patients are embracing new medical technology that could allow them to improve their health, some doctors have been hesitant to make similar upgrades to their facilities.

According to a new report by the Ponemon Institute – a Michigan-based research group, the U.S. healthcare industry could be losing an average of more than $6 billion annually due to data breaches.

In total, the researchers found that more than 50 percent of community pharmacies were receiving less than 15 percent of these documents electronically.

While the managers of small medical facilities were likely aware of the fact that healthcare IT workers are playing an increasingly large part in the industry’s day-to-day operations, a new report indicated that certain professional positions are also increasing in stature.

In recent years, the healthcare IT managers and personnel for small medical facilities have been looking to allow their medical staffs a greater degree of access to technology.

While medical experts have long touted the benefits of eprescribing – such as how it allows doctors and pharmacists to communicate information about patients more effectively – a new report indicates healthcare facilities are starting to adopt this essential resource.

New prescription technology is allowing medical professionals to analyze patient behavior related to prescription compliance as they never have before.