Building Trust Through Identity: Addressing Security Challenges in Modern Healthcare

In healthcare, patients are always the priority. But behind the scenes, the quest to secure sensitive data while empowering clinicians remains a delicate balancing act. In a recent episode of the radio show We Have Trust Issues, we (Tamer and Steven) sat down with Joel Burleson-Davis, CTO of Imprivata, to tackle one of the industry’s most pressing challenges: improving clinician efficiency while maintaining modern identity security.  

With regulated industries such as healthcare experiencing rapid digital transformation, this episode shed light on key strategies and technologies designed to build trust, secure workflows, and eliminate friction between clinical and IT teams.

Why Healthcare Security is Unique

Joel opened the conversation with an important point: healthcare workflows are vastly different from other industries. Unlike professionals such as accountants or engineers, clinicians spend the bulk of their time focused on patient care, not interacting with technology. "The primary concern of these end users is very different," Joel explains, "and so the way they work is very different."  

This focus on care creates unique challenges. Healthcare professionals often share workstations, devices, and data, making it harder to track identity in real-time. Meanwhile, hospitals remain prime targets for ransomware attacks because of their mission-critical operations. The combination of shared assets, constant workflow changes, and heightened regulatory requirements has led to friction between clinical care teams and IT security departments.  

The "No Balance" Mindset Shift

One of the standout moments from the discussion came when Joel challenged the common notion of balancing security and productivity. According to him, framing the relationship as a balance implies that one side must lose for the other to win. Instead, he emphasized the need to pursue both ends simultaneously.  

By innovating with "workflow-aware" solutions, Joel argues that healthcare systems can achieve superior security without burdening clinicians. "Technology teams need to embrace the hard problems," he said, "and eliminate the perception that security improvements must come with sacrifices on the clinical side."  

Innovative Solutions Driving Transformation

Healthcare organizations are tasked with solving both productivity and security issues simultaneously—and technological innovation is key. Joel laid out multiple practical examples of how identity security can empower care teams while enhancing protection.

Passwordless Authentication

Passwordless authentication was highlighted as a powerful "win-win" solution. Joel explained how integrating biometric logins, behavioral analytics, and intelligent PIN systems can replace the cumbersome, time-consuming process of typing in lengthy credentials. Without passwords to remember—or to reset—clinicians can reclaim more time for patient care, while IT departments benefit from enhanced security and reduced risk of human error.  

For Joel, the potential savings go far beyond seconds shaved off workflows. "If you calculate the time lost worldwide to typing passwords, killing them could change the game entirely," he remarked.  

Mobile Workflows

Another transformative technology discussed was the growing use of mobile devices in clinical settings. Joel described phones and tablets as tools that could replace traditional workstations, enabling more flexible, streamlined workflows. These devices can empower clinicians to ditch rolling carts or desktop logins in favor of a smartphone that connects them directly to critical systems and apps.  

However, Joel cautioned that mobile integration requires careful execution. "Mobile devices are mobile—it’s in the name," he explained. For a successful rollout, healthcare organizations must address challenges such as device sharing, fleet management, and initial setup hurdles. For example, shared devices should easily transition between users with minimal effort—using badge scans or face recognition for quick personalization.  

AI-Powered Efficiency

It wouldn’t be a modern conversation about technology without discussing artificial intelligence. Joel sees incredible potential for AI to make security an "invisible" part of clinician workflows. Using AI, healthcare institutions can automate identity verification and policymaking tasks that currently burden IT teams and distract clinicians.  

Beyond security, AI also offers opportunities to elevate workflows. For example, predictive algorithms can anticipate a clinician's needs, delivering key patient information exactly when it’s required, reducing time spent searching for critical data. However, Joel warned that the efficacy of AI solutions depends entirely on the quality, protection, and curation of the underlying data they use.  

The Danger of Poor Execution 

Even the best technologies can fail if they’re deployed without clinician input. In shared healthcare environments, it’s crucial for IT teams to consider factors like ease of use, device accessibility, and workflow compatibility. Joel recounted failed device rollouts where clinicians abandoned state-of-the-art workstations, not due to flawed hardware, but because boot times and added clicks slowed them down.  

"Doctors have literally timed how many seconds new processes take and calculated the number of patients they miss during a shift," Tamer emphasized. "It’s not something we can afford to ignore—not when clinician burnout and patient satisfaction is at stake."

From Trust Issues to Trust Building

For Joel, the solution to these longstanding issues is to rebuild trust through technology. Features that prioritize speed, simplicity, and clarity are essential to making security "invisible," giving clinicians one less thing to worry about in their often-stressful settings.  

Removing friction, streamlining identity verification, and reducing cognitive load are all part of a broader strategy to align IT and clinical goals. Joel’s message is clear: security teams must collaborate with clinical teams to design systems that prioritize both care delivery and regulatory compliance—and never sacrifice one for the other.  

Looking Ahead: What's Next for Healthcare Identity?

We closed the episode by looking to the future of identity security in healthcare—and AI took center stage. Joel predicted advances in AI-powered automation would enable healthcare systems to reduce manual tasks, enhance user experiences, and improve security postures.  

However, with AI's reliance on data, Joel emphasized that organizations must invest heavily in data protection and governance. "Without data, AI is a worthless piece of technology," Joel stated bluntly. "We must ensure its accuracy, security, and integrity if we’re going to depend on it."  

Continue the Conversation

To hear more about strategies for fostering trust while addressing modern security concerns in healthcare, check out Imprivata’s podcast, Access Point.  

For even more insights, don’t miss the upcoming CHIME State of Cyber Summit on January 20th, where AI’s role in healthcare security will be further explored.  

And of course, join us for more episodes of We Have Trust Issues, where the most important (and sometimes controversial) topics in cybersecurity are always on the table.