Hospital networks in critical condition

Expenditure on IT and communications in the healthcare sector fell at the beginning of this year in contrast to the big outlay on Y2K compliance work in late 1999. But hospitals that continue to neglect network development do so at their own peril.

These are the major findings from a study by analyst house Frost & Sullivan, which claims that insufficient budgets, poor IT skills among medical staff, and uncertainty about the safety of palmtop devices could hinder the integration of networks in hospitals.

According to Dr Mitul Mehta, research manager at Frost & Sullivan, IT development in the medical sector is a slow process, with a growth rate of just one per cent a year.

Mehta added that as healthcare working processes evolve and electronic information systems become a critical tool rather than a luxury, hospitals must update their networks.

He said: "In the next year, hospitals will have to respond just to keep up with demand, not even to make improvements. You can't have a hospital system with no communication co-ordination."

Phil Ryan, product manager with network management firm Peapod, agreed that IT and communication policies were becoming high-priority issues in healthcare, but staff still have to learn how to apply IT effectively.

He said: "The infrastructure is there but the application is poor. Systems run by different NHS trusts are sometime incompatible. We need a uniform system."

Patrick Cryne, MD with iSOFT, a hospital information systems operator, said security and patient confidentiality could slow growth in communication technologies like wireless devices.

He told silicon.com: "Medicine is a very sensitive area. Security and confidentiality are not assured on handheld devices. Low technology uptake might be the price to be paid for patient confidentiality."

Cryne added: "Information is now being recognised as a management aid in healthcare. There is certainly more enlightenment than a few years ago."