The European electronic medical records (EMR) markets are highly fragmented due to the diverse nature of the continent and the types of healthcare systems that its different countries follow. The levels of penetration of healthcare information technology (HIT) vary considerably across Europe, with some countries having achieved more than 90.0 per cent in the primary care sector, while others are gradually getting to that point at the rate of 8.0 to 9.0 per cent per year. While EMR implementation has helped healthcare organisations attain exceptional operational efficiencies, the process of transferring information is a tedious and sometimes discouraging one. This has led to a concerted standardisation drive in Europe to provide the highest levels of care delivery.
"The possible requirement of standardisation and EMR certification is a topic of great interest today, with supporters of this drive citing complexity and fragmentation in the European markets as a compelling reason," says the analyst of this research service. The fragmented state of the market has a particularly strong impact on vendors who have a European presence as it forces them to customise or even re-invent their products as well as price them differently. Given that EMR forms the very basis for integrated healthcare delivery, unique patient identities are critical to create a strong foundation on which EMR can be rolled out but this has been a subject of much discussion in many regions. The debate also continues on whether certification is really needed for EMR solutions, and the answer to this will greatly influence technology adoption and solution creation.
Public Sector has the Greatest Say in Adoption of EMR
The introduction of EMR has transformed healthcare delivery as it ensures quicker response and shorter waiting times, swift reporting and scheduling and efficient record keeping. Under the earlier system of manual filing of patient records, the updating was not always carried out in real-time, while the potential for lapses and the time spent on charting was considerable. "EMR’s ability to quickly combat wastage of time in charting has been a key driver in promoting these solutions in the primary care sector," says the analyst. "EMR also has a sort of plug-and-play functionality, making it very simple for physicians to prepare case notes using voice-to-text software that works with most EMR solutions."
Currently, penetration levels in Europe are highest in the United Kingdom due to strong efforts by the Government to upgrade the existing healthcare system. This can also be attributed to the key role played by general physicians (GPs) in the system. The public sector plays a major role in providing healthcare in the United Kingdom and indeed, across the whole of Europe. The influence of this sector on the healthcare system and in promoting technologically-driven healthcare is, therefore, considerable. This being the case, companies will need to ensure a high degree of involvement with governments and their key decision makers to ensure sustained growth of the EMR markets.
