Survey of Healthcare Executives Reveals Top Priorities for IT Investments

ANDOVER, Mass., Feb. 24, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Interoperability, mobile connectivity and technologies that drive real-time actionable information at the point of care will be the focus of health information technology (HIT) investments in 2014, according to the results of a new healthcare leadership survey released today by Royal Philips (NYSE: PHG AEX: PHIA). To date, electronic medical records (EMRs) have been the most widely adopted HIT, with the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services reporting EMR reimbursements totaled more than $15.1 million as of June 2013. Now, as the industry prepares to meet meaningful use Stage 2 criteria¹, healthcare leaders are looking to expand the capabilities of EMR data to support and improve the quality of care by measuring clinical outcomes and sharing patient information.

Conducted by HIMSS Media on behalf of Philips Healthcare and announced at the 2014 Annual HIMSS Conference and Exhibition, the survey of 142 healthcare leaders aimed to determine how they are prioritizing technology investment and adoption to address healthcare reform initiatives. Of the 142 respondents, 85 percent represent either standalone hospitals or integrated delivery networks (IDNs). Nearly 40 percent of respondents are in C-level positions, with the predominant position being CIO, and another 30 percent comprising IT directors and managers.

"EMRs must meaningfully use the information across a hospital's network to improve care and add value for the patient," said Joe Frassica, vice president and chief medical information officer, Patient Care and Monitoring Solutions for Philips Healthcare. "One of the major complaints of hospital systems about their EMRs is their inability to access the data that's incorporated into the EMR and use it for meaningful patient intervention."

In fact, according to the survey results, EMR applications, selected by 53 percent of survey respondents, were identified as garnering the lion's share of their healthcare organization's technology purchasing budget, with interfacing and integration applications being selected by 27 percent.

Other Key Survey Findings:

Connectivity and Interoperability

• A look at the combined top two rankings for technology capabilities that are important considerations for clinical technology purchase decisions reveal a demand for interoperable solutions and EMR augmentation (Table 1).
• When asked to identify the relative importance in choosing clinical technologies, EMR interoperability, at 44%, was by far the most important consideration for survey respondents.

Mobile connectivity for providers in and outside of traditional care settings

• Survey participants reported deploying their IT systems to the following entities to address healthcare reform requirements: physician offices (78%), ambulatory surgery centers (47%), diagnostic imaging centers (41%), urgent care centers (32%) and patient homes (30%).
• 51% of respondents indicated that their healthcare organization was deploying a new EMR as a new technology to help them meet healthcare reform initiatives.
• However, 59% and 54% identified clinical devices and mobility solutions, respectively, as recent acquisitions targeted to meet compliance.
• 37% of respondents also confirmed their use of other solutions such as home/telehealth technologies to help them coordinate care and meet healthcare reform initiatives.

To learn more about the results of this survey, visit the Philips booth (#7245) at HIMSS14 or view the complete research findings in "The New Healthcare Enterprise: Leveraging Healthcare IT to Achieve Connected Care, Healthcare Reform."  

For more information on Philips' presence at HIMSS, including the full suite of Philips interoperable software, solutions and services connecting the enterprise, visit www.philips.com/HIMSS and follow the #HIMSS14 conversation @PhilipsHealth. 

For further information, please contact:
Contact:
Kathy O'Reilly
Philips
(o) 978-659-2638 (mobile) 978-221-8919
[email protected] 
Twitter: @kathyoreilly

About Royal Philips:
Royal Philips (NYSE: PHG, AEX: PHIA) is a diversified health and well-being company, focused on improving people's lives through meaningful innovation in the areas of Healthcare, Consumer Lifestyle and Lighting. Headquartered in the Netherlands, Philips posted 2013 sales of EUR 23.3 billion and employs approximately 115,000 employees with sales and services in more than 100 countries. The company is a leader in cardiac care, acute care and home healthcare, energy efficient lighting solutions and new lighting applications, as well as male shaving and grooming and oral healthcare. News from Philips is located at www.philips.com/newscenter.

¹ On September 4, 2012, CMS published a final rule that specifies the Stage 2 criteria that eligible professionals, eligible hospitals and critical access hospitals must meet in order to continue to participate in the Medicare and Medicaid Electronic Health Record Incentive Programs. All providers must achieve meaningful use under the Stage 1 criteria before moving to Stage 2.

Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20140224/NE69810-INFO-a
Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20140224/NE69810-INFO-b
Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20140122/NE50581LOGO

SOURCE Royal Philips