Physician adoption of smartphones: HIT headache

Donna Cusano

No matter what number you believe is true for physician adoption of smartphones (Spyglass: 94% of hospital acute care and ambulatory practice; Manhattan Research: 81% in two years–TA 30 July), it’s presenting a real problem for hospital IT departments and for the physicians themselves. Right now, hospital security limits access. Few hospitals support multiple platforms (iPhone, Android, BlackBerry), and doctors not only can’t connect, but also if they can (generally with a hospital-supplied smartphone), the apps to manage the tide of information are in their infancy.  Integration? Far away…and not mentioned is the monster wave hitting hospital HIT departments–EHR integration. American Medical News surveys more than the usual suspects.