Final Report: Providers

8. Technology Adoption

Current use of data security tools has declined by 40 percent; predicted future use is expected to increase by 16 percent. Interest in XML and ASP technologies is expected to decline in the next two years, while use of voice recognition technology is expected to double.

The most widely cited technologies currently in use include high-speed networks (91 percent), Intranet (82 percent), and client server systems (81 percent). All of these use rates represent at least a 5 percent increase over the use reported last year. Use of data security technologies declined almost by half, from 78 percent last year to 39 percent this year. Additionally, use of hand-held devices, wireless information appliances, and the Extranet are up between 13 and 19 points over last year.

Wireless continues to be the technology that most respondents indicated their facilities would like to implement in the next two years, at 54 percent (up from 50 percent in 2001). Rounding out the top five technologies predicted to be used within the next two years are:

• Hand-held devices (51 percent, compared to 47 percent in 2001);
• Data security (47 percent, compared to 31 percent in 2001);
• Voice recognition (47 percent, compared to 46 percent in 2001); and
• Web-enabled business transactions (38 percent, compared to 48 percent in 2001).

A significant decrease was also seen in the predicted future use of XML (Extensible Markup Language), which declined from 33 percent to 20 percent, and in ASP services, which declined from 28 percent to 13 percent. Additionally, use of voice recognition was predicted to more than double in the next two years, from 19 percent to 47 percent in two years.

ASP technologies have not continued to receive the attention they have in the past. The number of respondents who expressed any level of interest fell from 66 percent last year to 56 percent this year. The number of respondents who indicated their facilities are not interested in ASPs rose from 27 percent to 40 percent. Despite these findings, the percentage of respondents who reported that ASP technologies are being used at their facilities increased from 13 percent to 21 percent. The most frequently used ASP technology was connectivity to payors (20 percent). Another 12 percent reported using ASP technology for healthcare plans. Respondents also predicted that these two areas will see the greatest rise in usage in the next two years.

Figures:

Figure 16. Current Use of Information Technology
Figure 17. Technology Adoption (Next Two Years)
Figure 18. Level of Interest in Using ASPs
Figure 19. ASP Technology Usage

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