​​​​More than 9 of 10 hospital systems plan to boost spending on cybersecurity in 2018, while most are proceeding cautiously with up-and-coming technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI), according to a new survey from the Center for Connected Medicine and the Health Management Academy. The survey, which asked pressing technology questions of leaders at 35 major U.S. health systems, found that 92% of leaders plan to boost spending on cybersecurity technology in 2018. However, 44% of respondents said they do not have a bitcoin wallet nor any plan to open one in 2018 to potentially pay cybersecurity ransoms. Along with cybersecurity, the survey asked organizations questions regarding consumer-facing technology (such as mobile apps), predictive analytics, virtual care, and AI. Every respondent indicated that they would promote health and wellness apps to patients in 2018, but less than a quarter said they expect wearables (17%) or mobile health apps (21%) to be a valuable source of patient-generated data in 2018. More than half (57%) of respondents use or plan to use genomic testing to help provide personalized medicine to patients. Respondents said predictive analysis will provide the most value in patient safety and quality, prevention of readmissions, and clinical decision support. Less than half (39%) of respondents said they currently receive reimbursement for virtual care, but 71% of those who do not said they expect to receive reimbursement in 2018. As for AI, 63% of respondents said it is a low or very low priority for 2018. "AI is interesting and fun and exciting, but nascent," said one respondent. "It still needs refinement."

HRC Recommends: Information technology (IT) use and abuse deserve the focus of healthcare organizations, which should already have in place or be developing strong cybersecurity policies and procedures. These should be reviewed regularly in the face of constantly evolving technology-based threats, available IT applications, and information security requirements.