By Miriam Friedmann
12. August 2025

DigitalRadar 2025: Why small hospitals should rely on the cloud

This statistic should make IT managers, especially small hospitals, sit up and take notice: According to the latest DigitalRadar 2025, Germany is catching up internationally when it comes to the digitalization of hospitals. However, small hospitals in particular are still struggling with structural hurdles: scarce IT resources, outdated technology and a lack of capacity. Solutions have long been available: Managed IT services from the cloud for hospitals can bring about a decisive turnaround.

What is the "DigitalRadar"?

A consortium of experts from the fields of science, DigitalRadar Hospital 2025 in order to better assess the progress of digitization in German hospitals. One of the core elements is a standardized online questionnaire for hospitals. It helps to assess the status of their digitization.

The DigitalRadar score (DR score) provides details. Its scale ranges from 0 for “not digitized” to 100 for “fully digitized”. The expert consortium evaluates various aspects such as

Is the electronic health record (ePA) already in use?
Are medical devices interconnected?
To what extent is telemedicine implemented in a clinic?

Why is the DigitalRadar so important?g?

On the one hand, the DigitalRadar is an important political management tool: the Federal Ministry of Health uses the results to evaluate the impact of the funds invested as part of the Hospital Future Act (Krankenhauszukunftsgesetz - KHZG). On the other hand, the DigitalRadar is also a key measuring instrument for identifying where there is still a need for action in terms of digitization in the healthcare sector. Indirectly, the DigitalRadar also allows comparisons to be made with the digitalization of other countries.

1,592 facilities completed the questionnaire for the DigitalRadar Interim Report 2024/2025. That is more than 85% of hospitals in Germany.

"The DigitalRadar shows: Progress is being made, but digitization is not progressing at the same pace for everyone. Smaller clinics in particular are facing enormous IT capacity bottlenecks and the burden of complex legacy systems. One thing is clear: without intelligent cloud solutions to ease the burden on the IT team, many necessary digitization projects will remain on hold."

Tobias Anger, Chief Technology Officer, Telepaxx Medical Data GmbH

DigitalRadar interim report 2025: progress yes, but the gap remains for small houses

The current interim report 2025 reads positively at first: the average digital maturity level of German hospitals has risen from 33.0 (2021) to 42.4 out of a possible 100 points - an increase of 27.3 %.

However, despite this progress, a clear digital divide remains, which particularly affects smaller clinics. Just two examples from the interim report:

Size determines the degree of digitization: Larger hospitals continue to achieve significantly higher DigitalRadar scores. While maximum care providers achieve an average of 51.9 points, basic care providers average just 38.3 points. This means that small hospitals, which often provide basic care, are lagging behind the most in the digitization process.
Uneven distribution of progress: Even though digitization is increasing overall, not everyone is benefiting equally. Public hospitals (46.5 points) and larger hospitals are recording the strongest growth, while many smaller hospitals are lagging behind because they are often privately or non-profit organized.

The structural differences are therefore becoming more pronounced - and the digital divide is growing.

Why smaller houses are lagging behind

There are many reasons for the comparatively slow pace of digitization, particularly in smaller hospitals:

Knappe IT-Ressourcen und Kapazitätsgrenzen: Kleinere Kliniken verfügen über weniger IT-Personal, das oft an Kapazitätsgrenzen arbeitet. Zugleich müssen die ITler ein breiteres IT-Fachwissen haben, statt sich auf einzelne Bereiche spezialisieren zu können. Im Alltag sind die IT-Abteilungen oft damit ausgelastet, die vorhandenen IT-Systeme am Laufen zu halten. Zeit für Innovationsprojekte, wie sie unter anderem vom Hospital Future Act (Krankenhauszukunftsgesetz), gefördert werden, stehen hintenan.
Complex and outdated system landscapes: The IT systems of small hospitals are often outdated, and changes to individual components usually have an impact on the entire IT landscape. Hospitals are understandably reluctant to do this because, in addition to risks for ongoing operations, such a step also entails a lot of work when IT resources are already scarce.

The solution: digitization from the cloud - more impact with less effort

The solution to capacity problems lies in the relief provided by managed IT services from the cloud. Technologies such as the TMD Cloud offer small clinics a clear way out of the dilemma:

Relief for the IT team: Responsibility for solution development, maintenance and update management of the IT infrastructure lies with the cloud provider. Your team is relieved and can concentrate on its core tasks.
Fast integration: Cloud solutions are generally designed so that they can be quickly and easily integrated into existing workflows. In the case of the TMD Cloud, the vendor-neutral approach in particular simplifies connection to existing systems such as RIS/HIS or PACS.
High security standards: Modern cloud solutions, such as the TMD Cloud, meet the highest security requirements, which is confirmed by a C5 certificate from the BSI. ISO 27001 certification also confirms that the chosen provider applies the highest information security standards. This gives you the certainty that your patient data is always protected.
Flexible scalability: Thanks to web-based communication and the technical concept of cloud software, it can be flexibly supplemented and expanded, for example if more data is to be archived in the cloud or additional functionalities are required to digitize further workflows.

Still unsure whether the cloud could be the solution for your hospital?

Here we explain 10 reasons for entering the medical cloud.

A practical example: the digitization of image transmission to patients and downstream healthcare facilities such as rehabilitation clinics or outpatient centers. DICOM data can be transferred directly from the cloud via QR code or web link as part of discharge management - without the time-consuming burning of patient CDs, from any workstation with Internet access and without a lengthy IT project.

Conclusion: The cloud helps to improve the DigitalRadar score

The second DigitalRadar interim report makes it clear: the path to the digital clinic is feasible - but it is not equally easy for everyone. Small hospitals in particular need support and simple solutions that take their reality into account.

Managed IT services from the cloud, such as the TMD Cloud, offer exactly that. They reduce internal costs, increase flexibility and make digitalization manageable - and measurable - even for small hospitals.

The key lies in relieving the burden on IT departments, as they create the technological basis for the use of modern medical technology.

With a partner like Telepaxx at their side, who combines secure cloud technologies and proven software-as-a-service, hospitals receive the support they need. This enables them to efficiently implement the requirements for digitalization projects and continuously improve their DigitalRadar score.

Because the next DigitalRadar survey in 2027 at the latest will be crucial: Who has translated the previous findings into concrete actions?

Would you like to see the TMD Cloud in action?

Arrange a web demo with us to find out more about the functionalities and possible applications of the TMD Cloud.