IDC has thoroughly analyzed government plans and surveyed several healthcare providers in Western Europe.
Based on this analysis, IDC believes that electronic patient records (EPR) are the top priority solution for healthcare providers over the next four to five years.
"Electronic records are top of mind for healthcare providers in Western Europe and will drive IT spending over the next four to five years. IT vendors that want to win a share of EPR business must look carefully at early adopters, such as the NHS, to learn lessons and craft a compelling solution-selling framework that adapts to other countries' needs and stages of adoption," said Massimiliano Claps, senior research analyst, IDC European Vertical Markets.
Other findings
Total IT spending for electronic patient record solutions is expected to grow from $1.1 billion in 2004 to $2.1 billion in 2008. Patient clinical data is the most vital piece of information for healthcare providers. To have a secure and comprehensive view of all patient data, healthcare organizations must deploy electronic records.
Software will be the major driver of spending. Database, document and record management, security software, and vertical-specific applications will be at the core of EPR solutions and will experience the fastest growth.
IT spending growth is currently high in the U.K. because of the NHS national IT program. The next growth phase will come from Germany and France, while Italy is expected to close the gap only in a later phase due to budget constraints.
Vendors must craft solution-selling frameworks that address the technology, business, and regulatory pain points of various countries. By learning lessons from early adopters such as the NHS, vendors must adapt go-to-market approaches to various stages of investment in different countries, address key pain points, and create a partner ecosystem that will enable them to support large and complex EPR projects.
Electronic patient record solutions stand out as a top IT investment priority for all primary and secondary care providers in all of the major Western European countries.

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