A lack of knowledge and funding gaps slow down digitization in the healthcare industry

Hanover - Digitization in the German healthcare industry is advancing slowly. That is the result of current study for which the personnel consultancy surveyed around 360 managers in hospitals and care facilities. Accordingly, the biggest stumbling blocks are too little financial resources, lack of support from cost bearers and politics, and too little knowledge among managers.

"We are seeing some progress in digitization in German hospitals, but the industry is lagging in an international comparison still clearly behind, ”said study director Oliver Heitz. Only just under 40 percent of the institutions surveyed have cross-company digital strategy. The areas of application for technical innovations, especially in the health sector, are diverse.

The respondents found digitization to be particularly useful when storing patient data , in medical diagnostics and in controlling the inpatient treatment process. By far the most important digitization topic for the respondents is the electronic patient file. In comparison, according to the study, other topics such as networking with third parties, the use of mobile devices or telemedical solutions only play subordinate role.

In addition, the survey showed that the decision-makers in German hospitals above all have an expectation of the use of new digital technologies have: increased efficiency. More than 80 percent of those surveyed are convinced that it will be easier to avoid duplicate or unnecessary examinations and treatments in the future. The respondents also see potential in the commercial area: 80 percent stated that they are increasingly putting internal processes and cost items to the test thanks to digitization.

When it comes to conveying the necessary knowledge, the study participants still see lot of catching up to do. The majority advocate better integrating digital skills into training. 46 percent of the respondents currently give the school grades “poor” or even “unsatisfactory”; just under nine percent see digitalization knowledge as being “good” or “very good” in medical training. “The digital transformation can only be successfully mastered with qualified and motivated employees. To do this, we urgently need to set the right course in education and training, ”said Heitz.