|
Markets & Clients | Vendors
Vendors
Serving the healthcare industry continues to be wrought with challenges. Rising debt and declining profitability characterize the hospital arena. Health maintenance organizations, with the exception of those that have cashed in on Medicare Part D, are struggling under the weight of slowing commercial membership growth.
Hospitals are searching for ways to reduce losses suffered at the hands of the uninsured, and HMOs are diversifying their product offerings to spur enrollment. Conversely, commercial laboratories have enjoyed recent growth, while the demographics of the aging baby-boomer provide opportunities for those with vision and the willingness to position themselves aggressively now.
Patient safety and disease management remain top priorities for healthcare providers. In addition, the extension of Clinical Information Systems continues to be a core strategy for meeting these priorities. Electronic medical records are also starting to lead the list of applications used by industry early adopters, especially when combined with Computerized Physician Order Entry and other clinical applications.
According to the Institute of Medicine, the cost of Adverse Drug Events (ADE) is as high as $3.5 billion. A cost approaching $1 billion has been attached to ADEs in Medicare patients – drawing government attention.
Technology organizations that serve the healthcare industry need to be very aware of both long and short-term trends. Strategy formulation needs to be supplemented by contingency plans quickly identify and pounce on changes in the industry. The increased use of information systems is being used to eliminate errors – especially in the area of electronic prescriptions. Patient safety continues to be a regulatory priority. And the shift to consumer choice provides even more instability.
With the industry in a dynamic state, the application of information systems and other services is constantly changing. For insights into where these trends may take your organization, contact a T2C consultant.
| 
