how common is texting within the healthcare space

Deliver better healthcare through effective use of secure mobile messaging

There’s no doubt that the reach of technology is widespread in the U.S. today. But how about in the healthcare system? As alluring as it is to discuss health tech startups, artificial intelligence and telemedicine, it’s crucial to move back to the basics.

In the hospital setting, providers rely heavily on devices for patient care-related communication. But what types of devices are they using? And just how up-to-date are they?

A recent survey, titled “Hospital-based clinicians’ use of technology for patient care-related communication” and published in the Journal of Hospital Medicine, took a closer look.

Researchers utilized a Society of Medicine database to conduct the survey of hospital-based clinicians across the country.

Out of 620 respondents, 495 received pagers from their respective hospitals. Approximately 304 of the 620 individuals said they most commonly received patient care-related communication via pager.

Additionally, about 300 out of 597 respondents said they utilize standard text messaging at least once per day. Surprisingly, 21.5 percent of those 597 individuals claimed they got text messages that included individually identifiable information. Another 41.3 percent said they received messages that included some identifiable information, such as patient initials.

Though clinicians claimed they frequently use text messaging, only one-fourth (146 of 549 respondents) said their organization implemented a secure messaging application that some providers were using. Even fewer (40 of 549 respondents) reported their organization had implemented an application that most clinicians were using.

As the researchers note, pagers are clearly the top choice for communication among clinicians. And while texting is becoming more commonplace, few hospitals have actually installed secure mobile messaging applications.

“The wide range of technologies used suggests an evolution of methods to support communication among healthcare professionals,” the study concludes.

The findings highlighted in the Journal of Hospital Medicine survey further validate the results of a March 2017 survey administered by the College of Healthcare Information Management Executives.

Although the survey was conducted among CIOs rather than clinicians, it’s clear that methods of communication are not going unnoticed.

Of the more than 100 CIOs, 39 percent said their hospital only has secure texting for personal devices. Thirty-five percent said their organization utilizes secure texting on hospital-issued devices only. And 26 percent claimed their hospital has secure texting on personal and hospital-issued devices.

Moving forward, healthcare organizations should seek to standardize the devices that clinicians use to communicate. What’s more, these communication devices and methods should be secure, lest patient information is compromised.

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