Although the government can encourage physicians to buy EMR systems, it’s vendors and the hospitals that affiliate with physicians that will ultimately determine if they go electronic, according to a new report from New York-based Kalorama Information.
According to the report — EMR 2010 (Market Analysis, ARRA Incentives, Key Players, and Important Trends) — the market for electronic records is expected to hit $13.8 billion for 2009, still short of its full potential.
It states that while solo practicing or small group practice-based physicians have fewer savings to reap than large healthcare systems, the change in their workflow will likely reduce short-term productivity when they make the switch to EMRs. And although meaningful use incentives have generated interest in EMRs, physicians in the U.S. are still hesitant due to the high upfront costs of implementation, it says.
For more information or to access the report, please click here.