Why shared mobile is the new gold standard in clinical workflow: From convenience to necessity
Shared mobile devices are transforming clinical workflows. The 2025 Imprivata state of shared mobile devices in healthcare report reveals why they are now the industry’s gold standard.
We all understand that in healthcare, every second matters. Every delay — whether waiting for lab results, struggling with authentication, or tracking down a misplaced device — can ripple into slower care delivery and lower staff satisfaction. Mobile technology has transformed clinical workflows, but the model of ownership and management makes all the difference.
A new consensus is clear: shared mobile devices, when optimized for speed and security, are now the gold standard for clinical workflows. According to The 2025 Imprivata state of shared mobile devices in healthcare report, 92% of healthcare leaders say mobile devices are essential tools in care facilities, and 99% expect the use of shared mobile devices to increase over the next two years.
Shared mobile isn’t just about cutting costs. It’s also about enabling clinical productivity, supporting staff well-being, and ensuring secure, frictionless workflows that empower better care.
Enhanced care delivery through shared mobile
Universally recognized value
Over time, mobile devices have transitioned from nice-to-have to indispensable. In the survey, 100% of respondents agree that mobile devices benefit care teams, and 94% say they facilitate high-quality patient care. Shared mobile extends these benefits beyond individual providers to entire care teams, ensuring coordinated, consistent access across shifts and departments.
Tangible clinical impact
- Faster care: 84% of respondents report shared mobile devices decrease time to care, while 86% agree they help reduce patient length of stay
- Better coordination: 67% cited improved communication and coordination as a top benefit
- Streamlined documentation: Mobile tools allow for real-time data capture, keeping patient records accurate and timely
The result is not just operational efficiency, but measurable improvements in patient outcomes.
Clinical staff well-being: Reducing burnout
Clinician burnout remains one of healthcare’s most pressing challenges, impacting up to 54% of US nurses and physicians. Administrative burden and inefficient workflows are major contributors. Shared mobile devices, when implemented correctly, provide relief:
- 90% of leaders agree that mobile devices save time and reduce burnout
- 94% agree that mobile improves staff satisfaction
By enabling fast, secure access to clinical applications, shared devices allow clinicians to spend more time with patients and less time accessing systems. This identity-driven model removes friction while restoring clinicians’ focus on patient care.
The hidden friction: Access and usability challenges
Despite the benefits of mobile devices, many organizations still face significant mobile workflow obstacles:
- 87% of respondents cite access issues, such as being locked out of devices
- 86% report usability problems, from broken devices to low battery to missing apps
- 81% admit staff use personal devices as workarounds when shared devices are unavailable — a practice that introduces HIPAA risks and expands the attack surface for cyber threats
The consequences of these obstacles go beyond inconvenience. Access delays compound at scale, costing valuable minutes per shift. Device assignment itself takes an average of 13 minutes per team member due to manual processes, handoff inefficiencies, and inconsistent policies. In emergencies, that lost time directly impacts patient well-being.
Shared mobile only becomes the gold standard when these barriers are eliminated through seamless mobile capabilities, such as tap-and-go authentication, automated provisioning, and centralized management.
Security and accountability: The critical gap
Shared mobile devices are only as strong as the systems that manage them. The report highlights vulnerabilities, including:
- 16% of organizations have no formal process for device assignment
- 28% use “first-come, first-served” distribution with no tracking
- 79% of employees share credentials, undermining identity security
- 74% report devices are often left signed in after use, exposing PHI
These gaps create risks on multiple fronts, including unauthorized access, costly HIPAA violations, and reduced accountability when devices go missing or remain logged in. Furthermore, 23% of devices are lost annually, not only costing organizations in replacement dollars but also in time lost — up to a full shift (12 hours) to locate a missing device in some cases.
The solution lies in identity-driven access management. With automated checkout/check-in workflows and real-time device tracking, organizations can reduce loss, enforce accountability, and eliminate shared credentials.
Financial and operational ROI
The report makes clear that shared mobile programs are a clinical and security imperative, as well as a financial one:
- Facilities save an average of $1.1 million annually by using shared instead of 1:1 or BYOD devices
- Organizations with a fully implemented shared device policy see 63% greater ROI, averaging $1.4 million in savings versus $860,000 for those without one
This cost advantage stems from fewer devices purchased, more efficient asset utilization, and reduced IT support burden. For example, 75% of organizations report frequent help desk calls due to access issues, each costing approximately $70. By streamlining authentication and reducing lockouts, shared mobile minimizes those costs while improving staff satisfaction.
The rise of shared mobile
The evidence from the Imprivata report makes one thing clear: the rise of the shared mobile model is not only inevitable, but also essential. And the reasons are many:
- Clinical productivity and satisfaction
Shared mobile speeds time to care, reduces patient stays, and makes workflows seamless. Clinicians save time, reduce burnout, and engage more directly in patient care. - Better communication
By equipping entire teams with secure, readily available devices, hospitals ensure instant access to the right people, apps, and data, which is critical for prompt patient care. - Frictionless security
With identity-driven solutions, shared devices move past cumbersome logins and risky credential sharing. Staff can tap in and out in seconds while maintaining airtight data security. - Financial efficiency
Shared mobile delivers proven ROI, maximizing existing investments and reducing IT strain. Facilities with strategic, policy-enforced programs gain the greatest financial and operational benefits.
The path forward: Purpose-built solutions
The conclusion is unambiguous: shared-use mobile devices offer tremendous promise when paired with the right policies, workflows, and technology. Healthcare organizations that embrace identity-driven, policy-enforced access management solutions are positioned to achieve the gold standard of clinical mobility, optimizing both patient care and clinician satisfaction.
Key steps include:
- Deploying frictionless authentication, such as badge-tap access
- Centralizing device tracking and usage visibility
- Automating checkout/check-in workflows
- Establishing formal assignment policies that eliminate “first-come, first-served” inefficiencies
By investing in purpose-built technologies like Imprivata mobile access solutions, organizations can transform shared mobile from a security liability into a driver for enhanced care and staff well-being.
Imprivata sets the standard
The 2025 Imprivata State of Shared Mobile Devices in Healthcare Report makes the case unequivocally: when healthcare organizations invest in streamlined access, frictionless security, and centralized management, the benefits are transformative. Clinical teams can work faster, patients receive better care, IT strain decreases, and security risks are mitigated.
In short, the future of healthcare mobility is not about more devices. It’s about purpose-built, shared device management solutions that empower clinicians to deliver the best care, every time.