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Nearly all frontline clinicians (98%) polled for a recent survey say inefficient technology is causing delays or errors in patient care, averaging 11 incidents per month.
This was one of the key findings of a report from Presidio that gathered insights from more than 1,000 healthcare professionals across the U.S., U.K. and Ireland.
The results point to an industry-wide technology crisis fueled by legacy systems that can't keep pace with the complexity and speed of modern care delivery.
Hard to obtain data
Cabul Mehta, industry principal, healthcare and life sciences, at Presidio, told Healthcare IT News that the biggest pain points are systems that don't integrate well, making it hard for clinicians to get the data they need when they need it.
"That leads to delays, duplicate work and a lot of frustration," he said. "Many are turning to workarounds – like using unsanctioned apps – just to get through the day. But that opens compliance risks and puts sensitive data at risk."
Even as clinicians express strong enthusiasm for artificial intelligence, adoption continues to lag. While 98% of respondents believe AI could streamline and automate routine tasks, less than half say their organizations are actively deploying AI tools today, highlighting a significant readiness gap.
From Mehta's perspective, there's a real disconnect between what clinicians want and what organizations can deliver.
Risky use of AI
"Many frontline workers are already using AI tools on their own – but without proper oversight or integration, it's risky," he said. "The barriers are mostly technical – old systems, lack of governance and slow decision-making."
He adds that until those barriers are addressed, AI adoption will remain stuck in pilot mode.
Additional findings from the report underscore the operational pressure facing health systems. More than 95% of respondents said patient care suffers when systems fail or data isn't easily accessible, and 24% reported safety-jeopardizing incidents occurring at least once per shift.
Burnout remains pervasive, with clinicians across all surveyed regions saying outdated technology contributes to rising stress levels and drives some to use unsanctioned tools that create new security and compliance risks.
"One of the quickest wins is automating admin-heavy tasks like documentation, scheduling and billing," Mehta said. "These eat up a ton of clinician time and are prone to errors. By streamlining them with AI, you free up time for patient care and reduce burnout. It's a fast ROI move that also improves safety and accuracy."
An underused type of data
Real-time data also remains underutilized, despite more than 90% of clinicians believing it would improve everything from outcomes tracking to care coordination.
Only 35% use real-time data at scale today – even though those who do are twice as likely to say their technology meets their needs.
"Real-time data is incredibly valuable, but the tech just isn't there yet in most places," Mehta said. "Legacy systems can't support it, and integration is a major hurdle."
That means even though clinicians know it would help with everything from tracking outcomes to reducing duplication, they're stuck waiting for upgrades that haven't happened yet.
With 99% agreeing artificial intelligence could deliver immediate value, especially through automation, the report suggested health systems have substantial opportunity to modernize and relieve pressure on overstretched staff.
"Admin tasks like scheduling, billing and documentation are perfect for automation," Mehta said. "They're repetitive, time-consuming and don't require clinical judgment."
He argued that automating these frees up clinicians to focus on patients and reduces the risk of burnout.
"It's a quick win with real impact," Mehta said.
Nathan Eddy is a healthcare and technology freelancer based in Berlin.
Email the writer: nathaneddy@gmail.com
Healthcare IT News is a HIMSS Media publication.
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