COVID-19 Presents Healthcare IT with Challenges

Pandemic reshaping healthcare IT in ways that affect leadership, employees and patients

By Dan Hounsell


What hasn’t changed for healthcare facilities managers in the last year? Whether it’s air filtration or touchless restroom technology or office configuration, the COVID-19 pandemic has changed nearly every aspect of facilities in some way, and that includes IT systems.

New realities in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic are reshaping healthcare IT in ways that affect leadership, employees, and patients, according to HealthLeaders.

Various changes include:

  • Moving to a hybrid of virtual and in-person meetings
  • Shifting to certain patient monitoring and visits at home instead of in hospitals or clinics
  • Consumerization of healthcare
  • Accelerating a move to and dependency on cloud-based platforms
  • Questioning the expense of traditional desktop phones

In particular, cloud computing in healthcare as a vital platform is a clear winner emerging from the pandemic, said Rasu Shrestha, chief strategy and transformation officer and executive vice president at Atrium Health. "It's here to stay," he said. "The scalability, the elasticity is exactly what we needed more of as we lived through the pandemic."



April 28, 2021


Topic Area: Information Technology


Recent Posts

Hospitals as Energy Microgrids: Ensuring Power Grid Independence

Resilient hospitals could become energy microgrids that generate, store and managing electricity while remaining connected to the wider grid.


Baystate Health Integrates Baystate Mercy Hospital into System

Over the past seven months, Baystate Health has been preparing to integrate Baystate Mercy Hospital and its affiliated clinics.


HCA Healthcare Reports Cybersecurity Incident

The organization identified suspicious activity on Aug. 12, 2026, and took steps to secure the affected systems.


How Retail Design Can Improve the Healthcare Patient Experience

Healthcare facilities can adapt retail design principles to improve patient comfort, streamline check-in and reuse existing spaces.


Jefferson Health Breaks Ground on Lehigh Valley Hospital—Coopersburg

It is expected to open in late 2027.


 
 


FREE Newsletter Signup Form

News & Updates | Webcast Alerts
Building Technologies | & More!

 
 
 


All fields are required. This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.