The healthcare industry is at a crossroads. As workforce shortages, compliance pressures, and quality expectations grow, technology has become both a driving force and a challenge for healthcare organizations. The Relias 2025 Technology in Healthcare Report — based on insights from over 2,000 professionals across acute, post-acute, behavioral health, and payer environments — shows an industry eager to innovate but hindered by fragmented systems, tight budgets, and inconsistent readiness for change.
While optimism around artificial intelligence (AI), virtual reality (VR), and integrated platforms is growing, the findings underscore a pressing need for leadership, education, and alignment to translate technological potential into measurable outcomes.
Technology adoption: Cautious optimism meets real-world constraints
According to the report, most healthcare leaders and professionals recognize the value of upgrading technology infrastructure, but adoption readiness varies widely. Only 15% of organizations describe themselves as “very ready” to adopt new technologies, while 42% say they are only “somewhat ready”.
The primary motivators driving new technology investments include improving patient outcomes (36%), maintaining regulatory compliance (30%), and reducing administrative costs (23%). These priorities reflect a pragmatic mindset — one focused on operational efficiency and risk mitigation rather than innovation for its own sake.
“AI can enhance our capabilities but must be used cautiously to assist, not replace, critical judgment and compassionate care,” said Cara Lunsford, RN, Vice President of Healthcare Policy and Clinical Solutions at Relias. “Balancing technology with the human elements of nursing ensures the best outcomes.”
Artificial intelligence: Education is the missing link
Despite its prominence in industry discussions, AI remains poorly understood at the ground level. More than half of survey respondents (53%) said they are “not at all familiar” with AI-enabled healthcare technologies, such as predictive analytics or workflow automation. Yet optimism remains strong: respondents believe AI’s greatest potential lies in operational efficiency (44%), predictive analytics for patient outcomes (38%), and clinical decision support (34%).
However, major concerns persist. Nearly half (49%) of respondents cited data privacy and security as their top worry, followed by bias in AI decision-making (37%) and its impact on the clinician-patient relationship (36%).
“Healthcare organizations should consider a proactive governance framework that promotes ethical and responsible AI use, safeguards data privacy, strengthens security, mitigates bias in decision-making, and enhances the patient experience,” said Felicia Sadler, MJ, BSN, CPHQ, LSSBB, Vice President of Quality and Clinical Workforce Development at Relias.
Virtual reality: Immersive learning with untapped potential
VR is another promising but underutilized innovation. Only 5% of organizations currently use VR for clinical or educational purposes, and 62% have no plans to implement it — primarily due to high costs and training barriers.
Yet healthcare professionals recognize VR’s potential: 65% see it as a valuable tool for medical training and education, and 34% for patient education and pre-surgical planning.
“Virtual reality, compared to a simulation lab, is much more affordable and provides immersive and personalized learning without scheduling simulation rooms and taking clinicians out of the work area, or worse, requiring clinicians to come in to do training on their day off”, said Lora Sparkman, MHA, BSN, RN, Vice President of Patient Safety and Quality at Relias. “Training scenarios can be completed in 10–15-minute sessions, making it easily accessible to train where the workforce works and is significantly more effective as a training method than attending lectures and viewing flat PowerPoint presentations.”
A recent Emory University study, which used Relias VR for Infection Prevention and Control (IPC) software, reinforces this potential: 95% of nurse participants agreed that VR is a useful way to learn about infection control, and 86% said they would apply their VR learning to practice
Workforce management: Technology as a retention strategy
Amid record staffing shortages, cited by 66% of respondents as their organization’s top challenge, technology is playing an increasingly central role in workforce management.
Organizations are using tools for recruiting and onboarding (44%), wellness and engagement (35%), and performance tracking (32%). Yet, only 16% of respondents are very satisfied with their workforce management strategies, suggesting that tools alone aren’t enough — integration, analytics, and leadership commitment are essential.
By aligning technology with people’s strategy, leaders can turn data into action. “Exceptional leaders are distinguished by their unwavering commitment to invest in transformative solutions that significantly enhance the quality of care,” said Sadler. “By leveraging technology to streamline recruiting, assessment, and onboarding processes, they drive operational efficiency from the initial set of engagement. Prioritizing ease of use and comprehensive reporting not only fosters seamless adoption among their teams but also paves the way for remarkable outcomes, ultimately cultivating a culture of excellence in patient care.”
Learning and performance: From compliance to continuous improvement
The report highlights a disconnect between learning efforts and measurable outcomes. Only 17% of respondents rated their learning programs as “very effective”, while 45% were unsure of their organization’s biggest challenges in continuous learning.
Budget constraints, lack of impact measurement, and outdated resources remain key barriers. Still, leaders see opportunity: by connecting learning initiatives directly to performance metrics and quality outcomes, organizations can foster a culture of ongoing improvement.
“Continuous learning isn’t optional — it’s strategic,” said Maria Samot, Senior Vice President of Content Development at Relias. “Organizations that treat learning as a measurable, outcomes-driven initiative will be more successful in retaining top talent, improving care quality, and positioning themselves as industry leaders.
Value-based care and compliance: Modernization required
The shift toward value-based care (VBC) is accelerating, but most organizations are still unprepared. Over half of respondents (53%) said they don’t know if their organization participates in VBC programs, and only 5% rated their technology infrastructure as excellent for real-time data sharing.
Without robust analytics capabilities, many providers risk falling behind as reimbursement models evolve. Investing in data infrastructure and staff training is essential for success in this new care paradigm.
Compliance follows a similar pattern. While 54% of respondents feel confident in their compliance programs, only 6% can demonstrate full, audit-ready compliance. The biggest risk? Training gaps and staff turnover.
To bridge the “confidence-to-compliance” gap, organizations need integrated platforms that connect learning, policy management, and analytics, ensuring consistency even as regulations change.
Closing the technology gap
The Relias 2025 Technology in Healthcare Report paints a picture of a healthcare industry in transition — aware of the need for innovation but still learning how to execute effectively.
Healthcare leaders can move from aspiration to action by prioritizing these strategies:
- Advance technology literacy through organization-wide education.
- Integrate systems for unified learning, compliance, and analytics.
- Leverage data to link training to performance outcomes.
- Act on patient and staff feedback using real-time analytics.
- Modernize infrastructure to support value-based care.
- Institutionalize compliance through continuous learning and automation.
Healthcare’s future depends not just on adopting technology but on doing so strategically, ethically, and humanely. The organizations that succeed will be those that balance innovation with empathy, empowering clinicians, strengthening culture, and ultimately improving patient outcomes.
Relias 2025 Technology in Healthcare Report
Covering topics such as artificial intelligence, virtual reality, platform adoption, experience management, and value-based care, this report provides healthcare leaders with a comprehensive view of where innovation is occurring, where obstacles persist, and how coordinated strategies can bridge the gap between ideas and implementation.
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