Like circus performers juggling flaming torches, healthcare IT professionals must manage multiple high-priority tasks simultaneously: making sure their organizations serve patients' health, meeting government mandates, and operating at maximum efficiency. Each year brings old and new challenges. In 2014, providers and payers face ICD-10's deadline, the looming arrival of Meaningful Use 2, and ongoing enforcement of HIPAA throughout the provider chain. At the same time, healthcare evolves toward volume-based payments that demand patient engagement and population health programs, all of which require tight integration between technology and its users.
