Healthcare is a high-pressure field by default, and that pressure intensifies for IT decision-makers and leadership each year. Ongoing talent shortages, an ever-evolving array of cyberthreats, and shifting patient expectations have all pushed organizations to reconsider how they invest in the technologies that help them provide care. 

According to the 2024 Healthcare Payer & Provider IT Trends and Priorities report, developed exclusively for GuideIT by KLAS Research and Bain & Company, a large cohort of providers focused their digital investments on three key areas last year: 

• IT infrastructure and services, including cybersecurity

• Clinical workflow optimization

• Data platforms and interoperability 

In this update, we’ll explain why these areas have come to the forefront, and why they’ll be increasingly more important throughout 2025 and beyond. We’ll also reveal ways healthcare organizations can prepare for future shifts — with a focus on finding consistent success in an increasingly connected, competitive digital ecosystem.

 

Strengthening IT Infrastructure and Cybersecurity

According to the report, IT infrastructure and services — including cybersecurity — top the list of provider priorities heading into 2025. While the focus itself isn’t surprising for a HIPAA-bound industry, providers are trying to evolve their approaches to cybersecurity to get ahead of sophisticated, changing threats.

Healthcare remains one of the most targeted sectors for ransomware, phishing, and patient data theft. Even a single breach can halt operations and erode patient trust. At the same time, technology environments are growing increasingly complex — with cloud migrations, hybrid IT architectures, and a surge in connected medical devices stretching the attack surface to its limits.

In response, providers are shifting from reactive cybersecurity practices to proactive strategies that emphasize continuous monitoring, rapid incident response, and endpoint protection, and they’re opting for external security support to implement and govern these services. They’re also investing in IT Management and Monitoring services, which help healthcare organizations stay secure while freeing primary IT staff to focus on digital transformation initiatives, support operational priorities, and other high-value work.  

 

Clinical Workflow Optimization to Combat Burnout

Provider burnout remains one of healthcare’s most pressing challenges — driven by administrative burden, inefficient tools, and mounting patient demands. It’s no surprise, then, that according to the 2024 Healthcare Payer & Provider IT Trends and Priorities report, providers are prioritizing solutions that optimize workflows, eliminate manual tasks, and reduce the time clinicians spend grappling with technology.

By streamlining day-to-day processes, organizations can help clinicians focus more on patient care and less on administrative overhead. Common strategies include:

• Automating repetitive EHR tasks to speed documentation and data entry
• Streamlining help desk support so clinicians can resolve IT issues quickly
• Implementing user-friendly systems that fit naturally into care delivery rather than disrupting it

GuideIT supports these efforts through its Clinical Service Desk offering — delivering fast, specialized IT support that helps providers spend less time troubleshooting technology and more time with their patients.

 

Unlocking the Power of Data and Interoperability

For many healthcare organizations, legacy systems continue to create data silos that fragment information across clinical, financial, and operational workflows. Without a unified view, providers struggle to deliver seamless care and make informed decisions. The problem compounds as every new “must-have” app or technology adds to an already complex ecosystem — in some cases involving a dozen or more tools during a single patient interaction.

Facing system overload in the exam room and the IT office, healthcare leaders have begun to rank interoperability among their biggest workplace challenges. The report’s research shows that associated challenges dominate the list of tech pain points providers experience: 

• Cost (49%)

• EHR integration (42%)

• Streamlined data access (39%)

• Interoperability (38%) 

• Difficulty managing multiple vendors (24%) 

In 2025 and beyond, modern data platforms that support interoperability and advanced analytics will be central to provider strategy. By enabling information to flow seamlessly among systems, organizations give clinicians a unified view of patient data and open the door to smarter, more connected care.

The impact goes beyond care delivery. With elevated interoperability, providers can see:

• Seamless data exchange among EHRs, billing platforms, and clinical applications
• Actionable insights that drive smarter decision-making in both clinical and operational settings
• Support for AI-driven innovation and population health initiatives

GuideIT helps healthcare organizations meet these goals by modernizing data platforms and managing integration across disparate systems — empowering providers to unlock insights that improve patient outcomes and operational efficiency.

 

What’s Next? 

In the coming years, the priorities of healthcare IT teams across the industry are clear: strengthen IT infrastructure and cybersecurity, optimize clinical workflows to support care teams, and unlock the power of data through interoperability and analytics.

Every provider’s path to meeting those goals will be different. But for many organizations focused on modernization, choosing the right technology partner will be the key to achieving these objectives. GuideIT specializes in supporting healthcare IT initiatives to improve clinical workflows, security, compliance, interoperability, and more. 

Learn more about our Security Partnership, IT Management and Monitoring, and Clinical Service Desk offerings, or schedule a conversation with our team to start shaping a technology strategy that drives better outcomes for your organization and your patients.