Mobile Mayhem: Why Healthcare’s Shared Device Revolution Is Both a Lifesaver and a Landmine

In an industry where every second can be the difference between life and death, healthcare systems have found a new vital sign: the shared mobile device.

New global research from access management firm Imprivata reveals that 92% of healthcare leaders now consider mobile devices essential to care delivery—an astronomical shift from optional tech perk to clinical backbone. Yet while hospitals are embracing shared-use devices as mission-critical, they’re also navigating a minefield of operational inefficiencies and security blind spots that threaten to undermine the very gains they seek.

A Tool to Heal—or to Hamper

Mobile technology has become deeply embedded in clinical workflows, with nearly every surveyed healthcare leader agreeing that mobile access boosts care coordination, IT security, and even clinician morale. And the payoff isn’t just anecdotal: the average facility is saving over $1.1 million annually by shifting to shared-use mobile strategies—thanks to faster communication, more agile mobility, and streamlined workflows.

But the picture darkens quickly.

A staggering 87% of care teams still lose an average of 13 minutes at the start of each shift just trying to get a shared-use device. That’s more than two hours per week, per clinician—time that could be spent treating patients, not troubleshooting technology.

“Every second counts in healthcare, and delays caused by outdated mobile workflows aren’t just frustrating—they can lead to lapses in care coordination, delayed treatment, or missed information,” said Dr. Sean Kelly, Chief Medical Officer at Imprivata and a practicing emergency physician. “Technology must adapt to the clinician, not the other way around.”

The Hidden Costs of Convenience

The 2025 State of Shared Mobile Devices in Healthcare report, based on responses from IT and clinical leaders across North America, the UK, and Australia, offers a rare behind-the-scenes look at what happens when healthcare’s digital ambitions collide with real-world implementation.

The top threats? Disorganization, device loss, and sloppy authentication practices.

According to the data, nearly a quarter of all shared-use mobile devices go missing each year—often due to crude oversight systems like paper sign-out sheets or shared spreadsheets. IT teams are paying the price: 32% of their time is now spent maintaining devices, and half their time goes to tracking and monitoring them.

Security issues compound the operational woes. With 79% of staff admitting to sharing credentials and 74% of devices frequently left signed in, healthcare organizations are walking a HIPAA tightrope. In fact, 44% of surveyed leaders cite data security as their number one mobile-related concern.

And while biometric or badge-based logins could mitigate these risks, 26% of facilities still rely on usernames and passwords—an archaic method in high-stakes, high-turnover environments.

When Clinicians Go Rogue

Perhaps most damning is the unintended consequence of poor access: 81% of clinicians are bypassing security altogether by using personal phones when shared-use devices are slow or unavailable. This trend, often invisible to IT, undercuts hospital investments and opens a Pandora’s box of compliance and privacy risks.

All of this paints a picture of a sector racing toward digital transformation while still stuck in analog-era habits.

“This research makes it clear: the future of care depends on mobile strategies that are fast, secure, and built around the realities of clinical work,” added Dr. Kelly. “When access is frictionless and secure, clinicians can spend less time troubleshooting technology and more time focused on what matters most: delivering safe, efficient, and connected patient care.”

A Prescription for Progress

The report doesn’t just highlight the problems—it provides a directional nudge toward solutions. The call to action is clear: modernize authentication, implement governance frameworks, and stop making clinicians fight with their tools. The mobile moment is here. Whether healthcare can seize it safely is the next critical test.

Because in medicine, there’s no room for device drama.