U.S. clinical mobility spending is forecasted to reach $5.4 billion by 2016, according to an announcement about a new IDC Health Insights report. Between 2011 and 2016, spending is predicted to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 12.7 percent, finds the report, which provides an updated spending forecast for hardware (mobile devices and back-end data center infrastructure), IT services and software related to clinical mobility.
"Growth in clinical mobility spending in the United States, while strong, is tempered by other demands on IT and the need to respond to health reform initiatives," states the announcement. "However, the deployment of the meaningful use technologies (i.e. EHRs, eRx, CPOE and HIE) will accelerate the use of mobile point of care solutions to create more efficient clinical workflows."
Among the technology developments and market characteristics that the report predicts will have the greatest impact on U.S. clinical mobility spending:
- Consumeriziation of technology which is driving clinician adoption of mobile devices and mobile device proliferation
- Increased availability of electronic health information and the resulting clinicians' desire for mobile access to patient data at the point of care
- Infrastructure demands of pervasive computing
- Security to comply with increasing more stringent Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) requirements under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA)
"The highly collaborative and mobile nature of clinical teams makes the strategic investment in clinical mobility solutions essential to meet the intense demands being placed on healthcare providers today," said Lynne A. Dunbrack, program director for IDC Health Insights, in a written statement. "However, these mobile solutions extend beyond the device and mobile access to clinical application. Clinical mobility is placing new demands on the datacenter and IT organization."
Last month, a new report from market research firm MarketsandMarkets forecasted that the global mHealth market will grow from $6.21 billion in revenue in 2013 to $23.49 billion by 2018 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 30.5 percent over that five-year period.
The report attributes the high growth rate to the adoption of digital wireless and mobile communications, as well as increased patient mobility and the rise in healthcare standards due to integration of wireless technology. Major healthcare equipment in the mobile healthcare market--including cardiac monitors, hemodynamic monitors, respiratory monitors, wearable fitness and wellness, and independent aging--is covered in the report.
To learn more:
- read the announcement