More Logins, More Problems, Lack of Integration Biggest Frustration for Providers

Out-of-hospital healthcare providers are feeling the pain from a lack of integrated technology between systems in their offices. In fact, according to the 2019 Healthcare Technology Report: More Logins, More Problems just released by Updox, an all-in-one healthcare collaboration platform, survey respondents ranked lack of integration as their most frustrating health IT challenges – as well as the technology pain-point most impacting their businesses.

More Logins, More Problems

Of the more than 600 out-of-hospital healthcare providers surveyed, nearly 60% of healthcare providers rely on 4 or more different technology solutions to manage daily functions. The lack of integration between these different systems results in increased costs and enhanced physician burnout. It’s no surprise, then, that nearly 20% of respondents said they planned to reduce the number of technology solutions in 2019.

Top Technology Frustration in Healthcare

Lack of integration between these different systems topped the list as the biggest technology challenge most negatively impacting their businesses followed by:

– Service downtime/interruptions
– Poor design of systems
– Lack of features
- Poor adoption of portals by providers and patients.  Portals require a login and learning to navigate the portal.  Different providers and hospitals often have a unique or proprietary portal requiring multiple logins.

Text messaging represents a profound change in how healthcare practices work. Learn how texting will change the way you communicate and coordinate care for your patients. This is a complete explanation and demonstration of the chat feature (in the video)

Patients almost always are carrying their smartphone with them or less than five feet from themselves.  Texting is second nature to most people.  Contrary to the opinions of GenZ (who rarely seek medical attention, baby-boomers and their ancestors are frequent users of texting.

On the other end of the spectrum, respondents ranked security, outdated hardware, and outdated software, respectively, as the technology pain points that impacted their businesses the least – reflecting these organizations’ priorities. (This is especially true since the advent of SAAS using the cloud for hosting programs and data) The software can be updated on one server (or more if mirrored).

Providers Want One Solution to Manage The Business of Healthcare

From patient reminders to faxes to payments. In addition, there is an exponential number of logins to manage across platforms when multiplied by each user, depending on the size of the business and its unique needs. 43% of the out-of-hospital healthcare providers surveyed by Updox said they might reduce their number of technology vendors if they could find ones that offered multiple solutions within one platform.

In addition, more than 50% of respondents named cost as a reason to reduce technology vendors, and 44% said that staff complaints or frustration would be a reason to make a change. It’s clear that healthcare providers want highly capable, all-in-one solutions that do more at a lower cost while integrating tightly with their existing systems.

Why It Matters

“The business of healthcare runs on and through Updox. We’re living in a post-EHR world. Now that every provider has one, attention turns to managing their businesses better. Before Updox, there wasn’t a common platform for healthcare that offered the same benefits as what the EHR did for clinical care. That’s the opportunity Updox offers,” said Michael Morgan, CEO, Updox. “Through more efficient workflows, staff are happier and patients can be more engaged in their care. This also gives the supply chain a more efficient access point to providers to facilitate faster, better-coordinated care.”

The Updox application can be run on many electronic health record systems already in use.

Text messaging represents a profound change in how healthcare practices work. Learn how texting will change the way you communicate and coordinate care for your patients.
Survey Background/Methodology

Updox surveyed more than 600 physicians, pharmacists, technicians, nurses and staff about the technology challenges of their workplaces. A majority of respondents are staff at primary care practices or pharmacies with a number of additional specialty providers using at least one element of the Updox platform.











More Logins, More Problems, Lack of Integration Biggest Frustration for Providers: Providers ranked lack of integration as their most frustrating health IT challenges – as well as the technology pain point most impacting their businesses.