As some of our channel partners are determining the best approach to this market, the below article talks about patient (aka: consumer) demand. Just as important, it also talks about market segment and who is more likely to adopt technology.

Docs slow to engage patients with IT | Healthcare IT News http://bit.ly/zL0Cf

My key takeaways from the article:

• "The cost of IT related to investment and impact on productivity is the primary barrier to adoption, with 66 percent citing upfront financial investment as their primary concern and 54 percent saying this about operational disruptions. This creates an opportunity for organizations that can assist physicians with financing, implementation, workforce training and process redesign. 

o If you haven't already, you might want to partner with someone on the financial side of business. There are some banks/lenders that have a healthcare-centric focus. With that piece covered and Hielix's operational expertise, you've created a compelling "solution" to bring to market.

• "Nearly one-half (46 percent) of single practices do not use EHRs compared to 22 percent of group practices with 10 to 49 full-time employees. Furthermore, 45 percent of solo practices have no plans to use EHRs, compared to only 15 percent of practices with 10 to 49 full-time employees."

o This is a very telling statistic about the small practices and confirms our notion that they are a more difficult segment to crack.

• The survey "shows growing consumer interest for secure messaging, access to personal health records and remote monitoring. Moreover, consumers trust information from physicians more than from employers or insurance companies, according to the survey, creating an edge for physician groups to gain market share via online engagement."

o During a time where margins are king, any competitive advantage a provider can exploit to gain market share will be very well received.

As always, for any EHR, IT and Meaningful Use support, please don't hesitate to contact your customer service specialist at Wildflower International powered by Hielix.