Finding and training workforce rises as a priority for providers
Ensuring staffing for key positions is among the key opportunities and challenges that could reshape healthcare technology management in 2025.
Many believe that 2025 will be a transformative year for the healthcare industry, with the potential to reshape healthcare technology management, cybersecurity and patient care.
The changes largely will be driven by advancements in artificial intelligence and its adoption, shifting international trade dynamics and the urgent need for workforce development.
Together, these forces will significantly influence how organizations deliver care, manage costs, and prepare for the future.
Driving productivity and innovation
Artificial intelligence will continue to redefine the healthcare technology management industry in 2025. The earlier that organizations responsibly adopt AI, the better positioned they will be to capitalize on its potential. From optimizing labor productivity to enhancing device security, there are seemingly endless AI applications in development.
The organizations that will be most successful will realize that AI should not replace a human workforce. Instead, AI should empower people to make their jobs more efficient and rewarding. For example, health systems can work with a partner that has predictive analytics to streamline maintenance schedules and diagnose potential problems before they happen, minimizing equipment downtime and improving patient care.
AI also will revolutionize cybersecurity. It will bring about new ways to bolster defenses and guard sensitive patient data, but it also will lead to increasingly sophisticated cyberattacks. Health systems must ensure they have the people, processes and technology to protect patients’ private information, hospitals’ ability to provide timely care and the organization’s reputation.
As we enter the New Year, AI is no longer optional. Organizations that don’t integrate AI into their operations risk falling behind in an increasingly competitive landscape. Clearly, 2025 will be a pivotal year for health systems that aim to position themselves for success in this rapidly advancing space.
Navigating trade uncertainty
Global trade policies and economic conditions will be a source of uncertainty for health systems throughout 2025, as a new U.S. presidential administration and new Congress take office. The potential for new tariffs and changes to trade agreements could disrupt global supply chains and increase prices.
Health systems can prepare for possible trade turbulence by ensuring they have an in-depth, accurate view of their medical device inventory. A deep understanding of the equipment within the organization – including device location, utilization and lifecycle stage – will enable health systems to make data-driven decisions that reflect their true needs.
Disturbances to the international supply chain, like those seen during the COVID-19 pandemic and its aftermath, underscore the need for robust supplier relationships. While it is often difficult for health systems to build and maintain these relationships alone, they can work with a partner that already has a deep network of vendor relationships. A partner with a proven track record in this area can ensure health systems have access to essential equipment and parts, even amid potential disruptions.
Working with a reliable partner also can shield health systems from volatile price fluctuations on individual parts. A healthcare technology management partner that provides fixed and transparent pricing can provide health systems financial predictability and operational reliability, enabling them to focus on their core mission of delivering excellent patient care.
As trade uncertainties persist, having a trusted partner with a record of resilience and adaptability will be essential for health systems.
Building through workforce development
The demand for skilled workers within the healthcare technology management field continues to outpace supply. More than 7,000 additional biomedical equipment technicians are needed each year, but programs focused on this specialty are only graduating fewer than 400 per year. Organizations need to make workforce development a top priority to address this challenge.
Creating more training and educational opportunities will play a key role in attracting new talent to the industry. Apprenticeship programs are excellent ways for organizations to prepare people with the skills needed to become biomedical equipment technicians. These programs can also help boost employee retention and instill company loyalty. Throughout 2025, businesses and policymakers should focus on expanding access to hands-on training to create new pathways for individuals from diverse and non-traditional backgrounds to enter the field.
Health systems also should strive to foster a more engaged and productive workforce by using the latest technology and most advanced processes. By giving technicians the tools they need to do their jobs, and making the work more enjoyable and fulfilling, organizations will build a more sustainable workforce.
Throughout 2025, the healthcare technology management field will face many opportunities and challenges. The most successful organizations will embrace innovation, adapt to global challenges, and invest in their people.
Kristi McDermott is the chief operating officer for TRIMEDX, having been with the company since 2018 after it acquired Aramark Healthcare Technologies.