A new global report reveals the digital divide complicating healthcare’s tech evolution. SOTI’s newly released report — “Healthcare’s Digital Dilemma: Calculated Risks and Hidden Challenges Exposed” — surveyed 1,750 IT leaders across 11 countries, including 200 from the U.S., and paints a picture of a healthcare sector rapidly adopting AI but struggling to shed its outdated systems. The report is important because not only are companies in the credit and collection industry working with healthcare providers dealing with this dynamic, those companies in the credit and collection industry are going through the same things themselves. Nearly all of the companies that participated said they are using legacy systems in some form or another, and nearly half said that outdated technology makes them more vulnerable.
By the numbers:
- 55% of U.S. healthcare organizations are using AI for personalized treatment — second globally.
- Use of AI for administrative tasks has more than doubled in the U.S., from 25% in 2024 to 55% in 2025.
- 53% of U.S. IT leaders admit they still rely on legacy systems.
- 44% say those systems leave their networks vulnerable to cyberattacks.
Zoom in: While the U.S. is ahead in AI-powered care, legacy infrastructure is causing widespread friction:
- 93% of U.S. healthcare IT leaders report problems integrating legacy systems with IoT and telehealth.
- 41% struggle to integrate Electronic Medical Records (EMRs).
- 31% say staff can’t access patient data quickly.
- 38% say too much time is spent fixing preventable issues.
Security snapshot: Data protection remains a top issue:
- 50% of U.S. respondents experienced a breach from an external source in the past year.
- 47% dealt with accidental staff-related data leaks.
- 80% are concerned about data security during device disposal.
The mobile challenge: The rapid proliferation of devices is fueling demand for more robust Enterprise Mobility Management (EMM):
- 69% say security management is their top need from EMM tools.
- 56% cite cyberthreat protection.
- 49% require remote troubleshooting capabilities.
Between the lines: Even as healthcare organizations make strides in modernizing patient care with AI, the strain of legacy infrastructure, increasing device sprawl, and inconsistent data protection protocols remain persistent hurdles. The SOTI report suggests modernization and integrated mobile management will be critical to enabling further progress.
