NBN to boost healthcare ICT spend to $2.4 billion

Peter Dinham
Thursday, 18 June 2009 11:58

IT Industry - Market

"The desired end-state for this sector is a fully integrated healthcare system that provides patients with a highly integrated and satisfying experience while facilitating improved management of the costs associated with providing this care.”
 
According to Martin, the future healthcare system will include a wide spectrum of potential service and application offerings including business-related tools such as HR systems, accounting systems, and CRM, patient care applications such as adverse drug tracking and e-prescribing offerings, and integrated applications that encompass both business and patient care capabilities such as the electronic health record (EHR).

In its report, IDC also says that the top business priorities in the health sector in 2009-2010 will include electronic procurement, electronic prescribing, healthcare portal, electronic reimbursement, computerised physician order entry systems, electronic patient records and electronic booking.
 
Overall, IDC says the Australian healthcare market is expected to increase moderately, with total investment in ICT increasing from $2,076 million in 2008 to $2,378 million by 2012, which will provide a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 3.5% for the forecast period.

Martin says vendors need to understand the focus of care is shifting, and that e-health will change the way consumers interact with the healthcare system and health information.

“Now people are looking for the own health information and starting health dialogs on the internet. Soon some patients will be the gatekeepers of their own health records,” and, advises Martin,   providers should consider expanding their own online offerings on their websites or partnering with Health 2.0 vendors to offer portals and functionality to their patients.