IDC 1204

A N A L Y S T C O N N E C T I O N

Judy Hanover

Research Director, Provider IT Strategies, IDC Health Insights

Bob O'Donnell

Program Vice President, Clients and Displays, IDC

Mobi le Technology: Transforming Hea l thcare w i th Table ts

October 2011

Healthcare provider organizations have always had unique and demanding requirements for their computing devices because of the highly mobile and data-intensive nature of the work involved, the sensitivity of the information, and the physical environment in which the devices are used. As a result, many provider organizations have been early adopters of mobile computing devices such as tablet PCs. The adoption of electronic health records (EHR) and computerized physician order entry (CPOE) at the point of care has created renewed interest in tablet devices as virtually all healthcare organizations look at their options and determine what sort of tablet solutions adequately meet their unique needs.

What many providers are discovering, however, is that increased choice in devices doesn't necessarily translate into better opportunity. In fact, it often just leads to more confusion. Also, many organizations are quickly realizing that you can't just pick the coolest new hardware because it continues to be applications that drive an organization's effective use of a given technology.

The following questions were posed by Motion Computing and Intel to Judy Hanover, research director of Provider IT Strategies at IDC Health Insights, and Bob O'Donnell, program vice president of Clients and Displays at IDC, on behalf of Motion Computing's customers.

Q. Why are healthcare organizations looking to invest more in tablet PC–based mobile

point-of-care technologies?

A. The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA) created incentives for

providers who demonstrate meaningful use of clinical information technologies including

EHR and CPOE. This has resulted in a proliferation of clinical computing and data captured

in electronic form at the point of care, as providers implement clinical applications to

demonstrate meaningful use, a requirement to qualify for incentives under ARRA.

However, providers are resistant to change, and the workflow changes required to move from

paper chart–based processes to the new technology can impact the productivity and

efficiency of providers. Tablet PC–based mobile technologies present an opportunity for

©2011 IDC 2

provider organizations to offer workflow solutions that make the new clinical applications

more attractive to providers and help to drive adoption. Using these devices at the point of

care allows providers to access patient records and lab results, place orders and document

care delivery in real time, leverage decision support to reduce medical errors, and drive care

collaboration by sharing information with other members of the care team.

Q. What are some of the challenges healthcare organizations face when adopting mobile

technology solutions?

A. Provider organizations face a number of challenges when adopting point-of-care computing.

Personal health information (PHI) is protected under HIPAA, and the consequences of data

breaches, both financially and to an organization's reputation, increased with ARRA. The

endpoint devices used at the point of care need to be secured to prevent breaches that may

result from theft or compromise of the devices. Clinical applications such as EHR must be

integrated with other systems, such as financial, billing, and departmental applications; the

devices in use must support multiple applications in an integrated environment. Endpoint

devices must support provider workflows. And tools such as single sign-on, continuous

sessions as providers move between patients, and barcode scanning to facilitate medication

administration can make providers more efficient and help them deliver better, safer care. In

many clinical environments, infection control measures require devices to be capable of

being disinfected and durable enough to withstand heavy use.

Q. What are some things to take into consideration with deploying a tablet/mobility

solution?

A. Provider organizations selecting a tablet/mobility solution for use in a clinical setting must

consider the current EHR and other applications in use, the environment in which the devices

will be used, the security and manageability of the devices, the performance and network

requirements, and the preferences of providers. Ongoing vendor support and the tracking

and maintenance of the devices are also concerns.

Most healthcare organizations run Windows-based applications, so it's important for them to

have tablet devices that run Windows or that can provide easy access to Windows-based

applications. While some alternative platforms have received a great deal of press, it can be

very challenging and/or expensive for IT departments to integrate multiple platforms into a

solution. In addition, the workflow in the clinical environment may make using a pen or a

stylus for data input, not just finger-based touch input, attractive. If an organization is running

applications that need to support integration with medical devices, solutions that can be

connected to larger external displays via a docking station or computer on wheels (COW)

may be considered.

Finally, organizations also need to consider potential training costs when deploying new

devices and new solutions. If users are faced with an entirely new environment, longer and

more expensive training sessions to make them feel comfortable and productive with the new

tools are often required. If, on the other hand, the healthcare staff senses some kind of

continuity or familiarity with existing tools and applications, the training process can be

shorter and less expensive.

Q. How is the move to cloud-based technologies impacting tablet deployments in

healthcare?

A. Providers are increasingly leveraging cloud-based solutions for clinical and administrative

applications. The benefits of this approach include the freedom to access these applications

and data from many different types of devices and, in some cases, many different locations.

©2011 IDC 3

There are costs and complexities involved in making this transition, but many healthcare

provider organizations have begun the process because they believe the long-term benefits

will be important to them for a number of reasons. First, it can provide the flexibility for

workers to conduct certain nonsensitive tasks outside the healthcare facility. Second, many

younger workers have grown up expecting to have mobile, anytime/anywhere access to

information, and providing that kind of flexibility in the work environment can help create a

more satisfying work experience.

Mobile devices, such as tablets, can be a critical enabler in these environments because they

allow data viewing and data entry to occur anywhere within the facility, even while workers

are standing next to a patient or moving from room to room. For sensitive medical record

data, devices that integrate the ability to create secure connections (via either hardware- or

software-based solutions) can also be a critical enabling factor.

In many of these cloud-type environments, tablets can function as mobile thin clients,

providing access to the applications and data stored securely in the organization's

datacenter, but keeping the actual data off the device. That way, in the event the mobile

device is lost, stolen, or damaged, no critical data will be lost or stolen.

A B O U T T H E S E A N A L Y S T S

Judy Hanover provides research, market analysis, and consulting on healthcare information technology, strategy, and best

practices for both inpatient and ambulatory healthcare settings at IDC Health Insights. Her understanding of healthcare

information technology is based on her experience working in the healthcare provider and payer vendor community, as well

as her experience with healthcare IT end users.

Bob O'Donnell is vice president of IDC's Clients and Displays research. In this role, O'Donnell is responsible for tracking

hardware developments that impact PCs, notebooks, thin clients, and other computing devices, as well as the ODM

production of notebooks. He also leads IDC's Displays research program, where he tracks both the sales and the

technology trends affecting the worldwide market for computer televisions, monitors, projectors, and related technologies,

as well as the market for large LCD panels and ODM production of monitors and TVs.

A B O U T T H I S P U B L I C A T I O N

This publication was produced by IDC Health Insights Go-to-Market Services. The opinion, analysis, and research

results presented herein are drawn from more detailed research and analysis independently conducted and published by IDC

Health Insights, unless specific vendor sponsorship is noted. IDC Health Insights Go-to-Market Services

makes IDC Health Insights content available in a wide range of formats for distribution by various companies. A license

to distribute IDC Health Insights content does not imply endorsement of or opinion about the licensee.

C O P Y R I G H T A N D R E S T R I C T I O N S

Any IDC Health Insights information or reference to IDC Health Insights that is to be used in advertising, press releases, or

promotional materials requires prior written approval from IDC Health Insights. For permission requests, contact the GMS

information line at 508-988-7610 or gms@idc.com.

Translation and/or localization of this document requires an additional license from IDC Health Insights.

For more information on IDC, visit www.idc.com. For more information on GMS, visit www.idc.com/gms.

Global Headquarters: 5 Speen Street Framingham, MA 01701 USA P.508.872.8200 F.508.935.4015 www.idc-hi.com