Moving key enterprise systems such as time and expenses and patient registration tools onto iPads has also been challenging. But Adduci says IT quickly decided not to create a virtualized desktop for the tablets.

"Rendering a PC on a iPad is not a great idea," he says. "Technically, it's possible. But what you can do is so different. We went to the iPad because the experience is so good. Why would I want to ruin a great experience?"

The upside of the company's iPad adoption was instantly clear, Adduci says, even if finding a concrete ROI is difficult. Sales productivity shot up, while the need for printed material declined dramatically. And there were intangible benefits, such as improved morale and reinforcing the company's innovative image.

in CIO's Cloud Computing Drilldown.