Shared mobile devices by the numbers: New healthcare industry research points the way toward greater ROI and streamlined clinical workflows

Shared mobile devices are reshaping healthcare delivery, promising significant clinical and cost benefits. But are organizations prepared to maximize security and workflow efficiency? Discover what it takes to unlock the full potential of shared mobile.

On a global scale, healthcare organizations are increasingly embracing mobile technology to transform clinical environments with efficient communication, anywhere application access, and streamlined patient care management. The 2025 Imprivata state of shared mobile devices in healthcare report provides crucial insights into the current landscape of shared-use mobile devices in healthcare settings – such as, for example, how organizations save an average of $1.1 million a year when they choose shared mobile over dedicated-user devices.

Here’s a look at the report’s key findings, and how organizations can make sure they get the most out of a shared mobile program.

Embracing shared mobile: A transformative shift

Mobile devices have transitioned from a mere convenience to an essential component of modern healthcare delivery. Ninety-two percent of survey respondents recognize mobile devices as vital tools, with shared-use models being preferred over individually allocated or bring-your-own-device (BYOD) solutions.

Key benefits for clinical and IT teams

The adoption of mobile devices significantly enhances both clinical workflows and IT management efficiencies, and the numbers tell quite a story. When asked about the top clinical benefits of mobile programs in healthcare, respondents said that these devices markedly improve coordination and communication (67%), streamline access to key clinical applications (54%), accelerate patient care (51%), and expedite documentation (46%). Additionally, an impressive 90% of respondents noted reductions in clinician burnout due to mobile device use, while 94% confirmed improvements in clinical staff satisfaction.

Shared-use mobile programs bring all those benefits, plus more. For IT teams, shared-use devices simplify asset management and reduce manual workload by improving tracking to locate lost devices (66%), ensuring better regulatory compliance (65%), boosting data security (60%), and improving visibility into device usage (59%). Furthermore, 92% of organizations report greater returns on investment (ROI) with shared-use models compared to 1:1 or BYOD mobile scenarios.

(Solvable) challenges to optimal implementation

Alongside the clear advantages of shared mobile devices, there are meaningful opportunities for refinement and strategic planning. Approximately 44% of healthcare facilities currently lack comprehensive policies for managing shared mobile devices – a gap that can lead to access inefficiencies, security vulnerabilities, and diminished operational returns.

A common frustration, identified by 87% of respondents, involves difficulties accessing shared-use devices, partly due to outdated authentication methods like usernames and passwords. Clinical staff spend, on average, 13 minutes assigning shared-use devices at start of shift due to factors like limited device availability, manual handovers, legacy assignment procedures, and inconsistent policies. This highlights the need for exceptional shared mobile access management solutions.

“Imprivata helps us break down adoption barriers and make the most of our mobile technology investments. Checking out a shared device couldn’t be simpler. You just tap your badge, pull a phone, log in, and you’re good to go. And with the identity-driven approach, staff members can get in touch with the right person, quickly and easily, which is extremely important in an emergency situation.” 

– Chris Paravate, Chief Information Officer, Northeast Georgia Health System

Mitigating the costly reality of device loss

To reap that annual $1.1 million in shared mobile savings, facilities need to be able to track their devices in real time – those that can’t risk losing up to 23% of devices each year. Without visibility into who has which device where, lost or stolen devices make a big dent in mobile ROI. In fact, according to the 2024 report, Unlocking the cost of chaos: The state of enterprise mobility in life- and mission-critical industries, the total costs resulting from lost mobile devices is a staggering $750,270 per year on average.

The 2025 Imprivata state of shared mobile devices in healthcare report found that this high rate of device loss can be partly attributed to outdated asset tracking methods such as manual sign-out sheets (36%), and Excel spreadsheets (32%). Nearly half (46%) of organizations rely on verbal instructions or other informal methods to assign devices, while 28% follow a “first come, first served” approach, allowing staff to grab any available device without a formal checkout or tracking system. Meanwhile, implementing an advanced shared mobile solution replaces those outdated approaches with checkout and tracking tools that simplify workflows for clinical and IT teams alike.

With our old system, about 20% of our devices went missing every year, but Imprivata Mobile Access Management makes it easy for us to track check-ins and check-outs. It helps us improve accountability and a significant contributing factor in yielding annual savings of approximately $500,000 a year in expenses related to device loss.”

– Michael Paulemon, DTS Manager, Workplace Technology & Engineering, Yale New Haven Health

Strategies for unlocking shared device value

To fully leverage the advantages of shared-use mobile devices, organizations must implement robust, comprehensive policies and cutting-edge technology solutions. The report highlights several key recommendations:

• Implement identity-driven, policy-enforced mobile device management to streamline user authentication and reduce login friction
• Achieve real-time visibility and accountability through centralized management systems, significantly reducing device loss and improving asset tracking
• Adopt standardized policies to mitigate security risks and ensure compliance with data protection regulations
• Optimize workflows to minimize downtime and maximize clinical productivity

Organizations that effectively implement these strategies experience 63% greater ROI compared to those without robust management policies. Facilities with comprehensive shared mobile policies report an annual average savings of $1.4 million, compared to $860,000 for those without.

Moving forward: A call to action

The adoption of shared-use mobile devices presents immense clinical and operational potential for healthcare facilities. However, the true value of these devices hinges upon proactive management, clear policies, and purpose-built technologies.

As healthcare organizations around the globe continue to scale their mobile device usage, prioritizing robust mobile access management solutions becomes not merely beneficial but essential. By addressing the outlined challenges head-on and harnessing the full potential of shared-use mobile devices, healthcare providers can significantly improve patient care, enhance clinical satisfaction, reduce operational costs, and ensure data security.

The 2025 Imprivata state of shared mobile devices in healthcare report serves as an indispensable guide for healthcare leaders aiming to achieve these objectives, offering actionable insights to unlock the transformative power of shared mobile technology.