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. In the past, this may have included installing new EMR hardware so that the existing software could run more efficiently; however, increasingly these professionals have needed to update their internet systems so that doctors can rely on tablet computers to treat patients.
According to a new survey by the nonprofit group the Computing Technology Industry Association (CompTIA), by the end of 2012, more than half of all U.S. doctors will be using tablet devices during their day-to-day operations.
"As mobile devices and applications have become more user-friendly, affordable and powerful, the appeal to businesses of all types, including healthcare providers, has grown exponentially," Tim Herbert, the vice president of research for CompTIA, said in a release.
CompTIA's Healthcare IT Insights and Opportunities study – its third annual version – was based on two separate surveys conducted online. One poll sought the expertise of 400 healthcare IT firms and practices, while the other queried 350 doctors, healthcare providers and dentists.
Overall, the survey found that nearly 25 percent are already using tablet devices, while another 20 percent expected to implement the devices during the next year. In addition, roughly 66 percent of healthcare providers said they were intent on improving their use of mobile technologies during the next 12 months.
Due to the fact that tablet devices can sometimes require doctors and medical facilities to make big changes to their existing IT set ups, smaller institutions that aren't able to rely on dedicated tech professionals may want to seek outside assistance. For example, by partnering with an experienced consulting group that provides not only electronic medical records software from trusted providers like Medisoft and Lytec, but that can also assist with computer networks, these facilities could see big benefits during their transitions.