A recent Nordic survey of healthcare CIOs and IT leaders reveals that 61% now view application managed services (AMS) as a central part of IT strategy rather than a supplemental staffing fix. This shift occurs as health systems navigate rising Epic complexity, tighter margins, and demands for modernization and analytics. Nordic Chief Growth Officer Steve Eckert stated, “The story is no longer about outsourcing to support a health IT team that is short-staffed. It is about creating the capacity to focus on priorities that will define the next phase of healthcare performance.”
The research highlights a distinct divide between urban and rural organizations in how they utilize AMS. Approximately 70% of urban leaders view managed services as a strategic lever for optimization and innovation, while only 43% of rural leaders share this perspective. Rural providers primarily frame AMS as a resilience tool to manage staffing constraints and maintain continuity through faster response times and after-hours support. Tabitha Lieberman, SVP at Nordic, noted that while reasons for adoption vary, leaders across all segments demand models that strengthen performance without sacrificing visibility or trust.
As healthcare organizations pursue AI readiness and digital transformation, the managed services market is maturing into a permanent operating model. Providers are increasingly judging AMS partners based on their ability to preserve data stability and internal capacity as technical environments grow more complex. The survey findings suggest that open communication and proactive support have become baseline expectations for health systems. Ultimately, AMS is no longer an isolated workforce decision but a fundamental component of the long-term strategic IT framework.