Few healthcare providers are experienced with information mobility--the ability to seamlessly capture, manage and transform information regardless its format, where it comes from or where it needs to go—even though that is probably the path to success with federal initiatives including Meaningful Use and accountable care.

That’s the finding of a study conducted by IDC Health Insights on behalf of Ricoh.  

IDC polled about 100 health IT executives and 500 hospital employees to examine the business effects of health IT and information mobility.

Nearly 80 percent said they need information mobility and remote access to information to use core functionalities and information repositories. More than three-quarters (77 percent) said they need information mobility to integrate data into various platforms and analyze the information. And, nearly 60 percent said using data for medical records is key to their organizations' business plan.

"As hospitals realize the benefits to population health, Meaningful Use gains and accountable care, they are steadily making investments to improve their workflows and IT infrastructure for greater access to information," said Lynne Dunbrack, research vice president of connected health IT strategies at IDC.

Despite those needs, respondents named several factors holding them back. Just 9 percent of respondents identified as "champions" of health IT and information mobility.

Half of the respondents said they have integrated workflows to a moderate extent, while nearly 30 percent said they have integrated workflows to a minor extent or ineffectively; and 17 percent said they have integrated workflows effectively.

Access the complete study.