New report finds 87% of Canadian healthcare organizations are using AI
Canada’s healthcare sector is racing to embrace cutting-edge technologies, but outdated systems and security concerns are putting the brakes on progress, according to a new report by SOTI titled Healthcare's Digital Dilemma: Calculated Risks and Hidden Challenges Exposed. It finds that while adoption of artificial intelligence (AI) has surged, legacy systems and fragmented data continue to slow the path to true digital transformation.
The report surveyed 1,750 healthcare IT professionals across 11 countries, including 150 in Canada. Among the findings: 87% of Canadian healthcare organizations now use AI in some form, up from 72% in 2024. Globally, 81% of organizations reported using AI to streamline processes, from administrative tasks to treatment planning.
"There's definitely interest in adoption in AI," says Mikhail Ishkhanov, senior director of product strategy and sales enablement at SOTI. "I think there's definitely some adherence to privacy concerns for scaling it wider beyond the current use cases."
AI: Progress with caution
AI’s biggest gains have been in areas like automating notes, updating patient records, and scheduling staff—tasks that don’t directly touch sensitive patient data. However, Ishkhanov warns using AI for more complex tasks like diagnosis and treatment suggestions remains a longer-term goal.
"When we start talking about the use of AI in things like diagnosing conditions or actually suggesting treatment, I think that’s a bit of an area where there is going to be a longer term till we see wider adoption," he explains.
The report echoes these concerns: only 36% of organizations surveyed have AI-specific security measures in place, raising questions about data privacy and regulatory compliance.
Legacy systems: A roadblock to innovation
The findings also highlight how aging IT systems create barriers to progress. Nearly every healthcare organization—97%—still relies on legacy technology, with 45% of IT leaders blaming these outdated systems for making networks vulnerable to cyberattacks.
"When we look at legacy systems, a lot of the time that data becomes extremely compartmentalized due to security concerns," says Ishkhanov. "They weren’t built with third-party integration in mind. So when we talk about integrating with AI or sharing healthcare records, it is still very much a siloed approach."
These silos can stall adoption of AI and telehealth technologies, leading to inefficiencies and even putting patient care at risk. Frequent system failures and device downtime further drain resources—challenges that are particularly acute in Canada, where 73% of organizations reported frequent technical issues.
Growing need for modern mobile device management
The report also underscores the increasing reliance on mobile devices in healthcare, from clinician laptops to tablets and smartphones. But managing these devices securely is a growing challenge—especially with legacy Mobile Device Management (MDM) solutions struggling to keep pace.
"We’re seeing a massive shift to modernizing enterprise mobility management systems with a real focus on the mobile workforce," Ishkhanov says. "If any of those [devices] goes down, you’re going to have more downtime, you’re going to have frustrated nurses and clinicians, and that’s why for us, we’re seeing a massive shift to modernizing their enterprise mobility management systems."
Modern Enterprise Mobility Management (EMM) systems go beyond basic device security. They provide real-time monitoring, performance analytics, and the ability to integrate seamlessly with other critical systems—key to ensuring patient care doesn’t suffer because of a device failure.
Collaboration and ecosystems
The report’s ultimate message is clear: overcoming these challenges requires a holistic, ecosystem-focused approach. Ishkhanov highlights collaborations with vendors like Imprivata to enable secure, instant device access—a crucial time-saver in healthcare.
"The speed of getting access to information and healthcare... I think is paramount," he says. "When you take an experience where it might take minutes for somebody to log into a device, versus seconds, and you do that thousands of times a year, the amount of time saved inherently provides better patient care."
The healthcare sector’s digital transformation is well underway, but for it to succeed, organizations must modernize their IT foundations and embrace integrated solutions that put patients—and their safety—first.
