Shared mobile devices in healthcare: can access be simplified safely?

TL;DR: Healthcare organisations are under strain from clinician shortages and burnout, and Imprivata says 62% of clinicians struggle to access shared devices quickly while nearly one in four devices are lost each year. The real issue is not mobility itself but whether identity controls can reduce friction without weakening access governance.

NHIMG editorial — based on content published by Imprivata: As Clinician Burnout Surges, Shared Mobile Programs Can Bring Relief

By the numbers:

• 62% of clinicians struggle to access shared devices quickly, and nearly one in four devices are lost each year.
• 65% reporting high stress., gh stress.

Questions worth separating out

Q: How should healthcare teams secure shared mobile devices without slowing clinicians down?

A: Healthcare teams should design shared mobile access around clinical roles, fast authentication, and automated provisioning.

Q: Why do shared mobile programs often create access problems in hospitals?

A: Shared mobile programs often fail when they use user access patterns that do not match shift work, shared endpoints, and time-pressured clinical tasks.

Q: What controls matter most for shared-device access governance in healthcare?

A: Role-based access control, automated provisioning, SSO, and passwordless authentication matter most because they reduce friction without removing accountability.

Practitioner guidance

• Map shared-device roles to clinical workflows Define which clinicians need which applications, data paths, and device states by shift and care setting, then use those mappings to drive access policy and provisioning.
• Automate device provisioning and reassignment Build provisioning steps that hand off devices cleanly between users, with identity-bound setup, rapid reset, and removal of residual access before the next assignment.
• Reduce login friction with passwordless and SSO Use passwordless authentication and single sign-on where the clinical workflow benefits from shorter access paths, then monitor whether staff still need manual workarounds.

What's in the full article

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

• Specific guidance on simplifying secure access for shared clinical devices without adding login friction.
• Practical deployment themes around role-based access controls, provisioning, and interoperability across systems.
• The source's healthcare workflow framing for mobile device use in burnout reduction.
• Context from the vendor's own research and clinical perspective on shared-device access patterns.

👉 Read Imprivata's analysis of shared mobile access and clinician burnout →

Shared mobile devices in healthcare: can access be simplified safely?

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