News Feature | June 23, 2014

Digital Omnivores On The Rise

Katie Wike

By Katie Wike, contributing writer

Digital Omnivore Doctors

The Epocrates 2014 Mobile Trends Report notes although there was a slight decrease in digital omnivore doctors this year, predictions show a surge in 2015.

A recent survey of 1,200 healthcare providers conducted by Epocrates found the growing number of digital omnivores is going to continue. After the 2013 report, Epocrates concluded, “Digital omnivores are becoming the standard: connected, mobile-centric clinicians who show preference for mobile screens in all professional tasks and spend more time accessing digital information than their colleagues.”

In fact, this year’s survey - Epocrates 2014 Mobile Trends Report - found a slight decrease in those who report being a digital omnivore. Last year, 47 percent of those surveyed were omnivores, this year only 41 percent.

However, according to Becker’s Hospital Review, the report predicts a surge next year with up to 74 percent of providers being considered digital omnivores. This is due in part to the fact that clinicians are reporting an overall increase in time spent using digital devices.

The report also found that non-healthcare providers, such as pharmacists are using mobile more often:

  • 80 percent of pharmacists report using a smartphone in professional workflow
  • 80 percent of all clinicians report using a smartphone in professional workflow
  • 44 percent of pharmacists report using a tablet in professional workflow
  • 45 percent of all clinicians report using a tablet in professional workflow
  • 82 percent of hospital pharmacists use smartphones
  • 78 percent of retail pharmacists use smartphones
  • 62 percent of hospital pharmacists use tablets
  • 27 percent of retail pharmacists use tablets

“Healthcare providers still consume a considerable amount of clinical content on mobile devices during the moments that matter. Smartphones remain a round-the-clock resource for quick reference. Looking to the future, 74 percent of clinicians surveyed expect to be digital omnivores by Q2 2015, suggesting the migration of tasks to mobile devices will likely continue to grow,” notes an Epocrates press release.