Healthcare identity and access: can security keep pace with care?

TL;DR: Healthcare digital transformation is nearly doubling budget share for digital initiatives, from 4.8% to 9.7% year over year in the 2024 Digital Health Most Wired report, while clinicians still face security friction that can slow care delivery. Identity has become the control point that must balance security, compliance, and usable access without adding burnout.

NHIMG editorial — based on content published by Imprivata: Tech Leader Highlights the Role of Identity in Securing Digital Transformation in Healthcare

Questions worth separating out

Q: How should healthcare organisations reduce login friction without weakening security?

A: They should align authentication strength to the clinical workflow, not apply one universal login pattern.

Q: Why does identity matter so much in healthcare digital transformation?

A: Identity determines whether clinicians can access systems quickly enough to support care while still preserving security, auditability, and compliance.

Q: What do healthcare teams get wrong about third-party access?

A: They often treat vendor access as temporary or exceptional, which leads to weak lifecycle control and poor visibility.

Practitioner guidance

• Map IAM controls to clinical workflows Review where authentication interrupts bedside work, shift handoffs, shared workstation use, and mobile access.
• Expand passwordless access for shared clinical devices Use passwordless authentication and frictionless MFA where clinicians repeatedly access shared endpoints.
• Govern third-party access as a separate identity class Inventory vendor and support accounts, define their approval path, and assign explicit expiry or review points.

What's in the full article

Imprivata's full article covers the operational detail this post intentionally leaves for the source:

• The practical examples of passwordless authentication and frictionless MFA in shared clinical environments.
• The discussion of facial biometrics for provider and patient access in day-to-day care settings.
• The role of shared mobile programmes for clinicians and how they affect access design.
• The rationale behind third-party access and user behaviour analytics in healthcare operations.

👉 Read Imprivata's analysis of identity-led healthcare digital transformation →

Healthcare identity and access: can security keep pace with care?

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