TLDR : Despite the adoption of AI, French healthcare's digital transformation is hindered by reliance on outdated systems, affecting security and efficiency.
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Amidst digital transformation, French healthcare facilities are increasingly adopting AI in their practices. However, according to the recent SOTI report, "Digital Dilemma and Healthcare: Deciphering Emerging Risks and Challenges", this modernization is slowed by a persistent reliance on aging IT systems that undermine security and operational efficiency.
The Rise of AI in Healthcare Facilities
The study, conducted with 1,750 IT decision-makers in 11 countries, highlights strong AI growth in French healthcare. By 2025, 81% of healthcare facilities report using AI, compared to only 45% in 2024. Among the most common uses:
- Updating patient records (60%);
- Medical data analysis (55%);
- Treatment planning (54%);
- Diagnostic assistance (42%);
- Personalization of care (37%).
This progression is supported by a reallocation of IT budgets towards emerging technologies. However, this dynamic coexists with a largely constrained infrastructure: 97% of French facilities still rely on outdated systems with limited capabilities, often incompatible with current security and integration requirements.
Security, a Major Challenge
In the past 12 months, 77% of French healthcare facilities have experienced one or more security incidents, whether data breaches or ransomware attacks. In response to these persistent threats, the proportion of IT leaders prioritizing security has increased from 25% in 2024 to 51%. Among them, 34% consider data protection their main concern, while 17% emphasize securing shared devices.
This increase reflects awareness in an increasingly heterogeneous technological environment. The widespread use of connected devices and telehealth (used in 99% of surveyed facilities) introduces new risk vectors, even more critical as 60% of them are based on non-integrated or obsolete systems.
The consequences are multiple: IT teams are overloaded (65% spend too much time resolving technical issues), difficulties in deploying new equipment (37%), limitations in remote support (35%), or inability, due to lack of time, to address strategic IT topics (46%).
Modernizing IT Infrastructure: An Urgency
Faced with these challenges, SOTI experts recommend reallocating IT budgets towards modern solutions like EMM platforms that enable centralized, secure, and scalable management of all devices used in the healthcare environment, whether medical tablets, portable scanners, or connected devices.
Faki Saadi, Sales Director for France, the UK, and Ireland at SOTI, concludes:
"To enhance data security, improve operational efficiency, and optimize patient care, it is urgent to deploy enterprise mobility management (EMM) solutions capable of managing all medical devices in a centralized and secure manner. Overcoming these challenges will allow facilities to better adapt to industry evolution and fully benefit from digital transformation."