Forrester Predictions for Healthcare CIOs in 2016

CIOs Need to Embrace Changing Technologies, Expectations

By Bruce Leidal

CIOs Need to Embrace Changing Technologies, Expectations

By Bruce Leidal

The New Year is upon us, which means it’s time to predict what’s to come for the world of healthcare information technology (IT) in 2016. The latest research from Forrester confirms what we already know to be true: healthcare CIOs will need to embrace changing expectations and technologies in 2016.

The predicted changes on the horizon bring both opportunities and challenges for healthcare CIOs. One thing is certain: CIOs will face increased demands for improved business technology (BT) plans in 2016.

In our recent blog series, “Whirlwinds of Change,” we dove into specific healthcare trends for 2016, including everything from sophisticated imaging in the NFL to the value in refurbished IT equipment. In this blog, we look at 2016 predictions in a new light. Forrester research has done a great job in predicting key changes on the horizon for healthcare IT leaders and how those leaders will need to adapt. From that, we’ve pulled out what we believe to be the top challenges CIOs can expect to face this year.

1. Changing regulatory and security requirements.

If 2015 was the year of the breach, 2016 will be the year of security. The Anthem Health data breach, among other high-profile breaches, sparked an increase in security expectations and forced organizations to take a good, hard look at their compliancy and architectures. It’s realistic to think that 2016 will bring another major healthcare breach that will keep the attention of CIOs on data security.

2. Rise of new data sources.

Forrester predicts that patients will continue to be more empowered by access to health care information from wearable devices, health and fitness apps, and social media. We think they’re spot on with this research—big data and healthcare are crossing paths in new ways, every day. People turn to their greatest source of information—their smartphone—for healthcare information from the web, social channels, and their own wearable devices, such as FitBits and Apple watches. Since this trend isn’t going away anytime soon, CIOs will need to increase their knowledge and integrate the information of such technologies into their data ecosystems.

3. Empowered patients.

Empowered patients are demanding price transparency and are beginning to comparison shop just as they would with auto insurance or any other major purchase. Options such as retail and urgent care clinics and virtual care that offer lower costs and flexible hours are winning over more consumers, forcing traditional healthcare providers to adapt.

Empowered patients may present challenges, but they also present opportunities for CIOs to improve transparency, invest in the latest customer-facing technologies, and increase their understanding of service costs.

Healthcare providers can’t fight these demands; instead, they must find ways to incorporate them into traditional service models. Top healthcare CIOs will ensure their health systems do just that.

  Bruce Leidal, CIO, Carestream

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