CHIME releases the 2024 National Trends Report 

Early Thursday morning, Russ Branzell, President and CEO of College of Healthcare Information Management Executives (CHIME), announced the release of the Digital Health Most Wired 2024 National Trends Report, a benchmarking tool for healthcare organizations who want to track their digital health progress.

The report analyzes survey data from around 48,000 U.S. healthcare facilities, including hospitals, long-term post-acute care centers, and clinics. This survey consists of approximately 90 questions, gathering insights across eight key themes: Infrastructure, Security, Administration and Supply Chain, Analytics and Data Management, Interoperability and Population Health, Patient Engagement, Clinical Quality and Safety, and Innovation. 

Highlights from the 2024 Digital Health Most Wired Trends Report

• Advancements in Patient Engagement: 
  • Patient engagement tools averaged a maturity score of 8.6—the highest among digital health areas, reflecting a strong industry focus on keeping patients digitally connected. 
  • Patient portal use increased by nearly 4% across small, midsize, and large organizations, marking a steady expansion in digital access for patients across healthcare sectors. 
  • Alerts and notifications from mobile health devices rose by 11% as HCOs seek to keep patients more engaged and informed through real-time updates. 

• Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Investment: 
  • IT spending nearly doubled from 4.8% to 9.7% of organizational budgets year-over-year, with significant allocations directed towards security and infrastructure initiatives to support digital transformation. 
  • 86% of large HCOs now employ a dedicated security executive, while midsize and small organizations report security executive appointments at 66% and 38%, respectively, underscoring the emphasis on specialized leadership in cybersecurity. 
  • Engagement with third-party cybersecurity firms rose by 12%, enabling HCOs to manage rising threats and maintain compliance through external expertise. 

• In-House Telehealth Services: 
  • 42% of HCOs now manage telehealth programs in-house, a 16% increase as more organizations bring virtual care management under their direct control to ensure service integration and continuity. 
  • Behavioral health telehealth services achieved a 93% adoption rate, while primary care telehealth adoption reached 57%, highlighting the broadening role of telehealth across various specialties. 

• Technology-driven clinical quality & safety: 
  • 63% of HCOs have adopted voice-activated devices in clinical settings, a technology proven to streamline clinician workflow and reduce administrative burdens. 
  • 68% of HCOs are proactively identifying high-risk patients to reduce opioid use, with additional tools like dashboards and prompts in place to improve patient safety and manage substance use disorders. 
  • Vendor neutral archives (VNAs) saw a 10% growth in adoption, as centralized imaging solutions became integral to improving clinician access to patient data across departments. 

• AI and Analytics for Efficiency: 
  • 89% of HCOs use AI for revenue cycle and contract management, taking advantage of low-risk, high-impact AI applications that streamline administrative processes and increase financial efficiency. 
  • Real-time dashboards and data visualization saw notable increases in operational use, particularly in patient engagement, staffing, and SDOH, empowering HCOs with timely insights for strategic decision-making. 

• Supply chain and administrative efficiency: 
  • Radio frequency identification (RFID) and real-time location systems (RTLS) adoption reached nearly 50% as organizations invest in tracking technologies to improve inventory management and patient flow efficiency. 
  • 89% of HCOs use digital wellness platforms to support employee retention, while only 40% have deployed feedback analysis tools, showing a focus on employee wellness but a lag in understanding staff experience. 

• Growing maturity in data governance and interoperability: 
  • 99% of HCOs report using EHRs to exchange patient data with other entities, although interoperability adoption is still limited with community partners, like emergency services, at 50%. 
  • Roughly half of surveyed organizations have mature data governance programs, while others are in development, indicating progress toward centralized data management for improved decision-making. 
  • TEFCA standards and QHIN memberships are steadily rising, with 58% of large organizations actively participating, fostering a more connected healthcare information network. 

Small hospitals prove digital excellence is possible, despite limited resources

While larger healthcare organizations typically achieve higher levels of digital maturity, the report indicates that size isn’t necessarily a determining factor for success. Notably, one-third of small organizations (1-250 beds) have achieved high recognition levels (Level 8 or higher) in the DHMW program by maximizing adoption of existing technologies rather than solely deploying new innovations.