A new KLAS report reveals that physicians who are choosing an EMR system within the next two years are considering a larger pool of software vendors. That’s made possible because the market has grown so much.
Back at HIMSS09 in Chicago, I spoke with an industry analyst who walked through the exhibit hall and counted at least 30 new vendors in the EMR/EHR space over last year's offerings. This is just an anecdote, but it gives you an idea of how many vendors - both those who are established in other market segments but have since moved into this market segment and new vendors period - have classified themselves as EMR/EHR companies.
The market is in flux because of ARRA, but I think that's a good thing. Imagine if there were only five choices. Competition drives innovation and that's good for the industry. While there are definitely the established front-runners, it's interesting to see that larger practices are looking into vendors who typically service the smaller physician office. This presents a tremendous opportunity for those niche vendors. One hopes that they are able to scale successfully.
One interesting data point from the survey is that nearly a third of the survey participants indicated they are replacing existing solutions, with half of that group saying the switch is being driven by the fact that their current solution lacks functionality or certification. This speaks to the influence of ARRA's federal incentive program.
Small provider offices should seek out the advice of the regional extension centers (RECs) in the complex, critical selection process. David Blumenthal, MD, head of ONC, announced that some RECs will be open for business in a few weeks.
What should also be helpful is that the federal Health IT Policy Committee is recommending that EHR and EMR vendors label their products according to their certification status of being either temporary or permanent.
In the meantime, providers should read the KLAS report to get the lay of the land, as well as see what their colleagues are thinking and doing.
