IT Leaders Focus on Existing Technology Value
Hospital chief information officers are prioritizing maximum return on their technology investments in 2025, according to the 12th annual Health IT Industry Outlook Report by Stoltenberg Consulting. A striking 62% of surveyed CIOs emphasize “getting the most out of existing IT purchases” – the highest percentage this priority has ever received in the annual survey.
This shift comes as healthcare organizations across the spectrum – from multi-hospital systems to community hospitals, academic medical centers, and ambulatory surgical facilities – face increasingly limited resources. Technology leaders consistently identify resource constraints as their primary concern in an environment where budgets are tightening while technological demands continue to grow.
The focus on maximizing existing investments represents a maturation in healthcare IT strategy, moving away from the constant pursuit of new solutions toward optimizing current platforms to deliver greater value. This approach aligns with broader industry trends emphasizing operational efficiency and sustainable technology management.
Resource Management Remains Critical Challenge
Resource allocation presents the most significant operational hurdle for healthcare IT departments. According to the report, 39% of respondents identify “retaining and budgeting for qualified IT resources” as their most pressing operational challenge.
Workforce issues closely follow, with 35% of CIOs pointing to “onboarding and/or lack of continuous technology training” as major pain points in their organizations. These challenges reflect the broader healthcare staffing crisis affecting institutions nationwide, where competition for qualified IT professionals with healthcare expertise continues to intensify.
The resource constraints extend beyond human capital to include infrastructure limitations, evolving regulatory requirements, and competing departmental priorities within healthcare organizations. CIOs increasingly find themselves advocating for critical IT needs while demonstrating tangible value to executive leadership.
Education and Workflow Optimization Prioritized
“Clinician end-user education and knowledge transfer, including workflow optimization,” represents a top priority for IT investment decisions. Technology leaders recognize that effective implementation requires not just the right systems but proper training and integration into clinical workflows.
CIOs are increasingly focused on reducing burnout among clinicians and frontline staff through strategic technology deployment. As the report notes: “With many clinical roles remaining unfilled, CIOs are prioritizing customized clinical support programs to prevent continued tech-related burnout and turnover.”
This emphasis on workflow optimization acknowledges that even the most advanced technological solutions fail when they create additional burdens for clinical staff. Forward-thinking IT departments are creating dedicated clinician experience teams to ensure technology enhances rather than complicates patient care delivery.
The report highlights successful implementations where IT departments have collaborated directly with clinical leadership to redesign workflows before technology deployment, resulting in higher adoption rates and improved clinician satisfaction scores.
AI and Cybersecurity Lead Investment Areas
Artificial intelligence/machine learning and cybersecurity dominate planned technology investments for 2025. CIOs identify multiple valuable AI applications, including:
- Data analytics and predictive modeling for population health management
- Clinical task automation and decision support for improved diagnostic accuracy
- Patient engagement and experience enhancement through personalized interactions
- Revenue cycle management improvements to reduce claim denials and accelerate payments
- Administrative burden reduction for clinical and non-clinical staff alike
Despite this enthusiasm, approximately 10% of organizations report uncertainty about their AI strategy, citing “difficulty narrowing down” specific use cases or concerns about implementation complexity. The report suggests establishing cross-functional AI governance committees to evaluate and prioritize applications based on organizational readiness and potential impact.
Cybersecurity Takes Center Stage
“Cybersecurity, privacy, and risk management measures” represent healthcare IT departments’ top investment priority in 2025, according to Stoltenberg’s findings.
“While in previous years, IT investments were primarily focused on current system optimization, priorities have shifted based on worsening cyber threats,” the researchers emphasize. “CIOs will continue to invest more financial resources toward enhancing their cybersecurity strategy over the next several years.”
The increasing sophistication of healthcare-targeted attacks, including ransomware and phishing campaigns, has elevated cybersecurity from an IT concern to an enterprise-wide priority. Many organizations are implementing zero-trust architectures and enhancing end-user security awareness training to mitigate vulnerabilities.
Balancing Competing Imperatives
Today’s healthcare technology leaders face complex challenges, balancing immediate operational needs with long-term strategic planning. CIOs must simultaneously “fix the boring stuff first” while developing roadmaps for advanced technologies like real-time analytics and remote patient monitoring.
Healthcare IT News’ “CIO Spotlight” series regularly features interviews with IT leaders about their priorities, offering insights into how executives are navigating these competing demands in 2025. Successful CIOs are developing tiered approaches that address foundation issues while allocating resources for innovation that directly supports organizational objectives.
Financial Pressures Drive Strategic Decisions
“We’re continuing to see the ripple effect from funding cuts impacting the full provider landscape – from community health centers to health systems across the country,” says Kaitlyn Nelson, director of account solutions and development at Stoltenberg Consulting.
“As a result, healthcare facilities are actively seeking cost-effective support options to address resource gaps to maintain daily workflow and end-user needs, while driving greater value from IT systems.”
The economic pressures forcing this strategic shift create both challenges and opportunities. Many CIOs report implementing shared service models across affiliated hospitals, consolidating vendor relationships to improve negotiating leverage, and exploring managed service options for specialized technical functions.
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