Not-for-Profit Hospitals Invest in Health IT

Health IT systems sit atop the capital-spending priorities of not-for-profit hospitals, according to a new report from Fitch Ratings.

In its May 17 report titled “Capital Expenditure Trends Among Nonprofit Hospitals,” Fitch analysts say health IT investment was considered more important than physician-alignment initiatives, and investments in outpatient facilities, clinical-access points and inpatient capacity, in that order. Hospital leaders considered all five surveyed areas to be of at least moderate importance, according to the report. The five areas were ranked on a score of one to five, with one being the most important. Health IT investment received an average rating of 1.7, followed by 2.7 for physician alignment and 2.9 for outpatient capacity. Inpatient-facility investment ranked at the bottom at 3.8.