The economic crisis is forcing many hospitals to make tough decisions with scarce resources, including delaying and scaling down information technology (IT) projects, according to a survey of America’s “most wired” hospitals and health systems performed by the American Hospital Association (AHA). 

While progress has been made, and incentives to implement IT will be available through the recently passed stimulus legislation, many hospitals still have a long way to go. The 100 Most Wired Hospitals are torn between building on their IT successes and keeping a sharp eye on budgets.

Although hospitals appear to be cutting the total dollars they spend on information technology, IT spending as a percent of total capital and operating budgets is actually increasing. Hospitals also continue to invest in IT that supports quality and safety initiatives.

For more information on the survey, visit www.aha.org/aha/press-release/2009/090707-pr-mostwired.html.