As demand for higher quality care continues, so too grows the demand for healthcare IT tools and systems. Add to that the Bush Administration's directive of having an electronic health record (EHR) for every American by 2014, and the drive towards automated workflows seems to have serious legs.
The push for EHRs is being felt nationwide as organizations struggle with how best to develop and participate in regional health information networks and health information exchanges. However, even as these new frontiers have created opportunities for products and services, they have also illuminated the barriers to data sharing across corporate borders.
As competition intensifies in an industry ripe with opportunity, the healthcare IT marketplace continues to see consolidation through acquisitions and mergers of well-known companies. In addition, emerging companies, many of which are new ventures led by industry veterans, continue to challenge the status quo with innovative products and services.
This year, more than 440 companies shared information on more than 5,400 HIT products and services. For example, 172 vendors told us they offer clinical information systems. That includes radiology/PACS, laboratory, cardiology, nursing, emergency, pharmacy, surgery, critical care, long-term care, behavioral, oncology, ob/gyn, home health and dietary.
In response to the demand for mobile computing and integration products and services, those market segments have continued to grow. No fewer than 80 companies said they could help with wireless implementations; 91 with system integration. And speaking of help, 157 companies said they provide consulting services.
To help you find the products and services that best suit your needs, we sent an e-mail reminder to all the companies in our database inviting them to participate in the Resource Guide survey, which was posted online in July.
Our thanks go to all the companies that participated in this year's annual Resource Guide. For those wishing to add their company to our database or update a company profile, the online survey is available throughout the year.
Although companies, products and services are represented here, you can find more in-depth information, including extended product categories, online at http://directory.healthcare-informatics.com.
Correction: The third page of our November cover story incorrectly attributed some research to “Deloitte analysis.” The research organization in question was, in fact, San Diego, Calif.-based Premier Inc.
