Healthcare organizations have embraced software as a service (SaaS) – and are ready to use similar subscription-based models to implement the full range of technology needed to support personalized medicine, according to results from Perspectives on Personalized Medicine and Software as a Service, a survey of healthcare professionals conducted by HIMSS Media.^*

Nearly all respondents reported that their organizations are using or planning to use SaaS for at least one use case. Organizations are most frequently turning to SaaS models for EHRs (45%) followed by clinical information systems (40%), and telemedicine/remote patient monitoring (38%). (Figure 1)

Figure 1. Current or Planned SaaS Use Cases
 

The model has become an attractive option, as it makes it easier to acquire and manage technology. In fact, 32% cited simplifying/modernizing IT as a primary factor driving their organizations to SaaS, 27% pointed to greater flexibility and agility to adapt to changing business needs, and 26% to accelerating or driving digital transformation or innovation in care delivery.

Such models are especially attractive as organizations shift to personalized medicine – a care delivery paradigm that customizes treatment plans based on each patient’s clinical and social needs and, therefore, hinges on the use of technology. Indeed, several respondents from organizations that are either extremely or very effective at delivering personalized healthcare pointed out that their organizations are driven by technology and patient-centric culture.

“Success at delivering personalized medical experiences is widely perceived to be dependent on having the right technology in place supported by the right processes and policies,” said Janet King, Senior Director, Market Insights, HIMSS Media. “Technology, including digital health tools, wearables and hardware, helps providers better tailor care to patient needs while also empowering patients to become more involved in their own care.”

Not surprisingly, then, organizations are open to using similar subscription-based models to adopt the full range of technology needed to support personalized medicine. Nearly 80% of respondents expressed interest in using subscription-based models to lease hardware with 8% being extremely interested, 24% very interested and 46% somewhat interested.

 “While the idea of “hardware as a service” is not familiar to most, interest in applying the same benefits around agility and scalability reaped from SaaS to hardware investments was relatively high, suggesting it is a concept worth further exploration,” King said. “‘As-a-service’ or subscription offerings can address some of those challenges and deliver benefits around IT modernization, flexibility, agility, and fit that will help position healthcare organizations to successfully implement personalized medical initiatives.”

Organizations that are facing specific challenges expressed a greater interested in subscription-based models for hardware. For example, 52% of respondents whose organizations are looking to protect technology investments and prevent devices from going obsolete cited interest in subscription models, while 47% that are dealing with data protection/patient privacy challenges expressed interest, and 45% who are coping with data management/storage challenges noted their interest.

“Like SaaS, a subscription-based approach to hardware and devices would allow for a more regular refresh of technology,” King concluded. “By transferring technology costs from a capital to an operating expense, organizations can more nimbly respond to evolving business needs.”

Read more on SaaS research highlights.

* HIMSS Media Survey: Perspectives on Personalized Medicine and Software as a Service, July 2019, conducted among 120 IT, business and clinical professionals and leaders at U.S. hospitals and health systems (multi-hospital systems, integrated delivery networks, academic medical centers, stand-alone specialty hospitals, and outpatient practices). GE was not identified as the survey sponsor.