The healthcare industry in the United States has been the sole industry keeping the moribund tablet computer market alive for several years. Although previous tablet-based computing devices have not enjoyed substantial consumer use computer-makers had thought they would, the healthcare industry's appetite for non-laptop portable computers can be traced back to the late 1990s, when technologists created prototype devices meant to replace medical professionals' clipboards and manage healthcare IT on one singular platform instead of multiple systems.

Nearly 50 healthcare and IT professionals were interviewed in conducting this research, which offers a framework for the potential the iPad holds for the healthcare industry. Quotes and anecdotes are given to support a forward-looking analysis that involves many moving parts: the device itself is expected to experience upgrades going forward, and new healthcare policy seeks to subsidize medical technology in new ways.

This research provides an evaluation of the healthcare industry's outlook for the iPad and its potential integration into the vast healthcare ecosystem.

The Apple iPad is an innovative computing tablet that is expected to cause a substantial ripple in information technology in the area of notebooks and wireless communications. Its allure lies in its technological innovations, purported to provide the ultimate web and computing experience in a simple, portable package. Brand loyalty among Apple customers will certainly make up the bulk of initial sales, and the innovative design will lure many new customers, but will the iPad redefine computing and telecommunication standards sufficiently to garner a following of investors and IT developers, or does Apple's initial success represent an unsustainable spike in sales?