Shared Mobile Devices to Ease Clinician Burnout if Operational Gaps are Closed

Clinician burnout remains one of the most pressing challenges in healthcare, but new research suggests that the strategic use of shared mobile programs and mobile access management technology could help ease the strain. According to the Imprivata 2025 State of Shared Mobile Devices in Healthcare Report, 90% of respondents say mobile devices reduce burnout for overworked clinicians, and 94% report improved staff satisfaction when mobile workflows are implemented effectively.

Mobile devices have shifted from optional tools to critical ones; the report reveals that 92% of healthcare leaders agree mobile devices are essential in clinical environments, and 99% expect their use to increase in the next two years. With shared-use mobile programs, organizations see even greater financial and clinical benefits, compared to 1:1 or BYOD approaches. Hospitals adopting shared mobile strategies save an average of $1.1 million annually, while those with fully implemented governance policies report 63% greater ROI, totaling $1.4 million in savings per year, as noted in a recent TechTarget article.

The findings reveal that the clinical upside is equally significant when utilizing shared devices: 67% of respondents cite better coordination and communication, 54% improved access to clinical applications, and 51% faster patient care as direct outcomes of mobile integration.

Yet, challenges persist. 87% of leaders report access issues, and 86% cite usability concerns such as devices being unavailable, uncharged, or lacking the right applications. Additionally, without asset tracking capabilities, 23% of devices are lost annually, with missing devices contributing to delays averaging three hours per week, per device. Without a comprehensive clinical mobile strategy and streamlined access management, clinicians often revert to workarounds like sharing credentials or using personal devices. A recent HelpNet Security article points out how these access issues also present risky security and compliance gaps, threatening to erode the very benefits mobile technology promises.

The findings point to a clear conclusion: shared mobile devices can be a powerful tool to reduce clinician burnout and improve patient care, but only if operational blind spots are addressed.

Learn more about how to improve clinical efficiency with Imprivata.