Technology’s rapid evolution has created remarkable opportunities – and pressing challenges – for the healthcare industry. Tools like electronic health records (EHRs), artificial intelligence (AI) and telemedicine promise to enhance patient care and streamline workflows, yet many healthcare professionals (HCPs) feel the strain of adopting these technologies into their practice.
According to Sermo’s 37th Barometer study of 611 global HCPs, 81% believe technical proficiency is just as important as clinical expertise. This statistic highlights the increasing importance of technology in healthcare and underscores the need to balance clinical responsibilities with the growing technological demands on providers. For those seeking to engage with HCPs – whether in pharma, digital tools, AI, patient support, telehealth services or clinical trial recruitment – understanding this perspective is critical. By addressing key pain points, such as inadequate training and integration challenges, stakeholders can support HCPs more effectively and ensure smoother adoption of new technologies.
Sermo’s Barometer also revealed that while technology has the potential to transform healthcare, its implementation often falls short of expectations. Misaligned digital tools, interoperability issues and inadequate user support create a complex environment for HCPs. The study found that HCPs spend an average of 22 personal hours per month learning new healthcare technology, adding to their workload and underscoring the need for better integration and support (figure 1).
Understanding the technology overload
For many HCPs, the promise of healthcare technology feels overshadowed by the practical difficulties of integration. The variety of digital tools available today – from EHR systems to decision-support software and patient portals – is overwhelming. Instead of streamlining workflows, these systems frequently serve as sources of frustration due to steep learning curves, technical glitches and excessive administrative demands that take time away from a provider focusing on their patient.
The problem of interoperability looms large. Many systems operate in silos, preventing seamless data-sharing between platforms. HCPs often toggle between multiple applications to piece together a complete picture of a patient’s health, which not only wastes time but also introduces risks for errors and inefficiencies.
Another growing pain comes from the constant pace of updates and new tools being introduced, with 48.2% of HCPs reporting at least one symptom of burnout, according to an AMA survey.
Read the article in full here.
