Three-quarters of hospitals and health systems spent more on information technology last year and many will continue to do so, with greater focus on IT infrastructure and bolstering cybersecurity, notes a new report from Bain & Company and KLAS Research.
The greater attention being paid by many providers to hardening their cybersecurity defenses is a direct response to the February hack of payments manager Change Healthcare, the report states. That cyberattack, one of the largest in American history, has had a profound impact on U.S. hospitals and health systems. Ninety-four percent of AHA members reported suffering a financial impact from the event, with more than half saying the impact was “significant or serious.
Other categories of tech investments that stood out in the survey data include efforts to improve:
1.Clinical workflow optimization.
2.Data platforms and interoperability.
3.Revenue-cycle management.