Healthcare Leaders Identify Top Digital Transformation Priorities

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By Scott Mace

While the COVID-19 pandemic highlighted how huge a role technology can play in making the care process more efficient and convenient, simply revving up patient engagement tactics fall short of satisfying newly empowered patients, according to a recently released survey.

Research by digital health company Lumeon identified top digital transformation priorities, as picked by C‑suite leaders at U.S. hospitals. The list includes short- and long-term goals to make care more positive and efficient.

The report reveals that as the U.S. emerges from the pandemic, and hospitals’ key aims continue to be increasing patient volumes and revenue, digital transformation will continue to be ever more important in achieving those aims.

Among the findings in this research, conducted by Sage Growth Partners on behalf of Lumeon:

  • Improving patient access is the top digital transformation goal for 59% of providers.
  • 94% of leaders report that care team coordination is key for successful digital transformation.
  • 43% of providers said improving care quality continues to be a key priority.

Among other findings, eight out of 10 providers say waste reduction has been a focus during the pandemic.

Growth in new brick-and-mortar hospital services will be more selective than before, the survey found.

Providers expect good digital patient experiences will translate into more word-of-mouth recommendations.

In the next 12 months, 88% of providers say digital transformation is moderately or very important, the survey found. That number rises to 93% when the time frame reaches out to the next three years.

Major barriers to digital transformation were also reported out by the survey.

Despite two-thirds of providers stating their IT budget had increased or stayed the same as during 2020, almost half of respondents said that their IT budget might still be insufficient to achieve their transformation objectives.

Other barriers identified by respondents included low adoption by patients, technology silos, inability to demonstrate return on investment, and limited EHR customizability.

Scott Mace is a contributing writer for HealthLeaders.