< + > Healthcare Burnout is Reaching a Fever Pitch, Mobile Devices Could Be the Answer

The following is a guest article by Dr. Sean Kelly, Chief Medical Officer at Imprivata

Healthcare systems are facing an unprecedented challenge. Clinician shortages are rising, with a projected shortage of primary care physicians reaching over 85,000 by 2036. As a result, care teams must do more with fewer resources, which is fueling stress, fatigue, and burnout across the workforce. This dynamic threatens not only the well-being of clinicians but also the quality of patient care.

This burden is compounded by administrative complexity, as clinicians often spend valuable time navigating inefficient workflows, logging into outdated systems, and juggling multiple devices. However, under mounting pressure to increase efficiency without compromising care quality, a powerful resource empowers clinicians to do more with less: shared mobile devices.

The Mobile Moment

When deployed effectively, shared mobile devices allow clinicians to streamline care delivery, reduce cognitive load, and reclaim time lost to administrative hurdles. In fact, 92 percent of healthcare leaders now consider mobile devices essential to care delivery.

The benefits are clear. From instant access to electronic health records to streamlined medication administration, real-time communication, and fast documentation, mobile devices keep clinical workflows nimble to meet the demands of such high-volume, fast-paced environments. These advantages translate to higher efficiency, improved patient outcomes, and cost savings, with facilities saving $1.1 million annually by choosing shared mobile devices over individually allocated ones.

Mobile’s Deployment Gap

Despite the promise of mobile technology, many healthcare organizations struggle to realize its full potential. Poor deployment strategies and weak governance often leave clinicians frustrated rather than supported. 62 percent of care staff often experience issues accessing shared mobile devices, delaying critical workflows and eroding trust in the tools provided. Not to mention, 23 percent of devices are lost annually, further diminishing the return on investment.

Without robust access management and security frameworks, shared device programs can create vulnerabilities that jeopardize patient data and compliance efforts. Instead of enabling efficiency, these gaps risk amplifying the very challenges they intend to solve.

How to Make Mobile Devices Work for Clinicians

To ensure that shared mobile devices deliver on their promise, healthcare leaders must adopt thoughtful strategies that integrate usability, access management, and security. Best practices include:

• Implementing Role-Based Access Controls: Assigning permissions based on role ensures that clinicians only access the applications and information they need, reducing risk while streamlining workflows
• Interoperability Across Systems: Ensuring integration across both legacy infrastructure and modern applications ensures consistent access control across clinical systems
• Device Loss Prevention: Lost mobile devices can significantly erode return on investment; effective mobile device management solutions that streamline authentication and secure access curb device loss and ensure better device utilization while protecting sensitive data
• Automating Device Provisioning: Ensuring devices are ready for use as soon as a shift begins removes technical roadblocks and maximizes productivity from the first patient interaction
• Enforcing Security Policies: Protecting sensitive data while maintaining seamless access for authorized users keeps compliance intact without impeding care
• Providing Continuous Training: Equipping clinicians to maximize device capabilities fosters adoption, confidence, and long-term success

When deployed with these practices, shared devices free clinicians from unnecessary administrative burdens, enabling them to focus on patient care.

A Path to Workforce Sustainability

Healthcare organizations cannot afford to ignore the link between clinician burnout and inefficiency. Mobile devices help meet increased patient demand, and when properly implemented, they offer a powerful lever to support workforce sustainability. They reduce the daily friction that fuels stress while also enabling clinicians to do the work that matters most.

By transforming workflows, strengthening collaboration, and protecting sensitive information, shared devices can help health systems weather ongoing clinician shortages and build greater operational resilience for the future. When paired with thoughtful implementation, we can give clinicians the tools they need to thrive and deliver the high-quality care patients deserve. Embracing shared mobile devices will shift healthcare from a system strained by scarcity to one empowered by smarter, more sustainable workflows.

About Dr. Sean Kelley

Dr. Sean Kelly is the Chief Medical Officer (CMO) and Sr. VP of Customer Strategy for Healthcare at Imprivata, where he leads the company’s Clinical Workflow team and advises on the clinical practice of healthcare IT security.