Critical Technology Issues Hospitals will Face in the Next Five Years: An Organized Approach to This Major Planning Challenge (Feature‪)‬

Almost everyone agrees that advanced clinical and information technologies offer unprecedented promise to enable healthcare solutions. But right now, many hospitals are grappling with how to optimize technology and the financial investment it requires. This article discusses the top technology issues hospitals will face in the next five years. While the response to these considerations must be tailored to each individual hospital's goals and vision, there are issues that apply to all situations. One general comment to begin with: To implement these strategies takes a lot of effort at the enterprise level. Where do you get the expertise? Don't forget your inhouse experts: department directors, clinical managers, nurses, and support staff. Associations offer conferences profiling case studies that focus on these initiatives. In addition, consultants offer expertise developed through an iterative process of implementing numerous projects.