Last week technology trade organization CompTIA released results from its latest survey on healthcare IT investment trends: Spending by healthcare professionals and providers will focus on PCs, printers, phone systems, networking equipment and some consumer devices.

The survey found that "roughly" one in four doctors and dentists plan to buy a tablet PC for their practice during the next 12 months. CompTIA said those 25 percent of respondents have put tablet PCs "near the top of their shopping lists."

“While most of these technologies can work independently, maximizing their value often entails an integrated approach,” Herbert advised. “IT firms providing creative, holistic solutions covering both core IT and consumer electronics may be best positioned to capitalize on purchase trends.”

No surprise here: CompTIA found that few doctors have taken advantage of email or text messaging to communicate with patients for services including appointment reminders. CompTIA found that many doctors want to move in this direction though.

Group practices on average plan to increase spending, while solo practitioners are more likely to keep their IT spend flat over the next 12 months. Overall, CompTIW believes about 50 percent of practices will increase their IT spending in the next year.

CompTIA’s Second Annual Healthcare IT Insights and Opportunities study pulled from Web surveys sent out to 370 U.S. IT firms and 300 U.S. healthcare providers, including doctors, dentists, nurses, physician assistants and office managers.

CompTIA members can see the full survey results: More here