What You Should Know:
– A new report from SOTI, “Healthcare’s Digital Dilemma: Calculated Risks and Hidden Challenges Exposed,” reveals a growing divide in U.S. healthcare’s digital transformation. While many organizations are rapidly embracing AI and mobile technologies to improve patient care, a significant number are being held back by outdated systems and rising security risks.
– The report, which surveyed 1,750 IT decision-makers across 11 countries, including 200 in the U.S., found that more than half (53%) of U.S. healthcare IT leaders admit they are still relying on outdated technology. A concerning 44% report that these legacy systems leave them vulnerable to cyberattacks.
AI Adoption is Surging in Patient Care
AI adoption in U.S. healthcare is accelerating, moving beyond administrative tasks to more direct patient care applications. Key findings on AI adoption include:
- 55% of U.S. healthcare organizations are now using AI for personalized treatments, ranking the U.S. second globally in this area.
- The use of AI for administrative purposes has more than doubled, rising from 25% in 2024 to 55% in 2025.
Legacy Systems Create Roadblocks, Raising Security Concerns
The persistence of outdated technology is a major impediment to progress. The report found that 93% of IT leaders face challenges with their legacy systems, IoT, and telehealth implementations. These old systems create inevitable delays in accessing critical information, which ultimately reduces the quality of care.
The impact of legacy IT is significant:
- 44% of U.S. respondents say their network is vulnerable to security attacks.
- 41% report difficulties with the integration of Electronic Medical Records.
- 38% state that too much time is spent fixing preventable issues.
- 31% say staff can’t access patient data quickly.
Security Risks are Everywhere—And Growing
Data security is the number one concern for one in three U.S. healthcare IT leaders. The threats are coming from multiple angles:
- Half of the leaders have dealt with a breach from an outside source in the past year.
- Nearly as many (47%) have faced accidental leaks by staff.
- 80% are worried that patient data won’t stay protected when mobile devices are disposed of.
The Need for Stronger Enterprise Mobility Management
Mobile technology is now central to care delivery, from patient check-ins to bedside monitoring. While all surveyed organizations use Mobile Device Management (MDM) solutions, many report that their current systems are insufficient to manage the growing ecosystem of devices securely and efficiently.
When asked what features are most needed from their MDM solutions, IT leaders prioritized:
- Security management (69%)
- Cyberthreat protection (56%)
- App Management (55%)
- Compliance and policy enforcement (52%)
- Remote troubleshooting (49%)
For more information about the report, visit here.
