Why It May Be a Mistake to Stretch Out Healthcare IT Modernization Lifecycles

Higher costs of care, strains from the pandemic and other economic challenges that have emerged for the healthcare industry in recent years have led many organizations to extend their IT refresh cycles. Where many organizations previously would replace aging infrastructure every three to five years, some are now trying to extend those periods to save money. However, IT experts note that putting off modernization also comes with costs.By keeping aging IT infrastructure, healthcare organizations may limit their ability to move forward and take advantage of modern technologies and IT strategies, such as artificial intelligence tools and increased interoperability with the electronic health record.Supporting these technologies and processes with a solid IT foundation enables healthcare organizations to enhance productivity and efficiency in current clinical and operational processes, which can create a positive impact on patient outcomes and experiences.