The EHR landscape is dominated by a few select vendors. One of those is Epic Systems. There is no shortage of analytical commentary on the strengths and weaknesses of this otherwise secretive organization. This blog will discuss a few potential strategy options for Epic going forward.
- Global expansion: Epic and Cerner are currently in a battle to gain the majority share of the US market. As you can see in the infographic below, Epic is #1 in 22 states and Cerner is #1 in 15 states. A recent survey also found that Epic is poised to gain even more market share due to prominent mind share so there is still a lot of opportunity to be had. As the battle to gain market share in the US is fierce, Epic will also look to move further into other regions to offset the saturating US market. However, a recent deployment at Cambridge University Hospitals in the UK has led to significant financial issues. Epic's premium pricing position has led to the $300m implementation being met with cynicism over the proposal's value for money. If Epic is to penetrate other regions effectively, it will need to find ways to reduce initial cost outlay.
- Solution improvement in interoperability: Despite scoring the highest mark for interoperability among its competitors in a recent Healthcare IT News consumer survey, it remained the lowest scoring element of Epic's scorecard (see below.) This is evidently an industry wide issue that needs to be addressed.
- Bolster analytical capabilities with IBM's Watson: Epic has a large foundation of patient data and information. As it continues to gain market share in hosting this information, it will also aim to improve its analytical capabilities to derive real value from this data. Epic's experience with IBM on the DoD bid in working jointly with Mayo Clinic has forged a relationship which will see Epic explore how Watson's cognitive computing capabilities could be applied into Epic's EHR base.
- Develop mobile health applications: Epic announced in late 2014 that it is building a data center to transition its healthcare IT apps to a cloud-based model due to growing demand. Coupled with this, Epic also announced that it would be working with Apple to develop mobile health applications for Apple HealthKit. Cloud-based health applications connecting healthcare providers and patients to Epic's EHR will improve its standing in the mobility space.
Best Regards,
Jonathan Cordwell
Research Analyst, Healthcare Strategy
ResearchNetwork, CSC
- TechTarget, Infographic: Epic leads Cerner in battle for EHR market, http://searchhealthit.techtarget.com/news/4500250294/Infographic-Epic-leads-Cerner-in-battle-for-EHR-market, 21st Jul 2015
- EHR Intelligence, Epic Systems Tabbed to Expand Hold of Ambulatory EHR Market, https://ehrintelligence.com/news/epic-systems-tabbed-to-expand-hold-of-ambulatory-ehr-market, 13th Oct 2015
- Healthcare IT News, Epic EHR adds to UK hospital's financial mess, http://www.healthcareitnews.com/news/epic-ehr-adds-uk-hospital-money-woes, 28th Sep 2015
- Healthcare IT News, 2015 EHR Satisfaction Survey vendor report card: Epic, http://www.healthcareitnews.com/infographic/2015-ehr-satisfaction-survey-vendor-report-card-epic, 9th Sep 2015
Care Coordination is a key concern in the UK healthcare landscape as it is globally. The need for systems to be integrated in order to reap business process benefits as well as capitalizing on the sheer mass of data that healthcare organizations produce on a daily basis is driving healthcare providers to seek out assistance from IT service providers to not only establish an integrated infrastructure but to also guide them through the possibilities of what value can be attained through this exercise. Today, I look at three characteristics of the UK healthcare ecosystem and its current status with coordinated care.
- Healthcare providers struggle to coordinate care outside of the hospital: Between 2013 and 2014, the National Survey of Bereaved People (VOICES) was commissioned by the NHS to assess experiences of care in the last three months of patients' lives. The key point that stood out the most in my opinion was that healthcare providers struggle to coordinate care when the patient is outside of their usual care setting whether that be a hospital or at home. By no means is there a lack of technology in this area to enable coordination as there is a multitude of devices and means of communicating between care sites. The healthcare ecosystem however struggles with streamlining, integrating and standardizing workflow processes and in conjunction with telehealth technological developments, this is where IT service vendors need to be able to add value to their clients and ultimately their patients.
- The introduction of the NHS vanguard sites demands care coordination: In January 2015, the NHS launched a program inviting individual organizations and partnerships to apply to become 'vanguard sites'. These are, in essence, test cases for new models of care going forward. Looking at the requirements set forth by the NHS, it is clear that success will not be possible without coordinated care. Throughout the ideologies of what the new models of care will look like, we see direct references to becoming an "integrated provider", having a "joined-up electronic health record" and using "patient population segmentation". In fact, the description of 'Enhanced health in care homes', even references how new telehealth technologies can be applied to provide better care. Together with MarketsandMarkets' forecast that the Population Health Management market will grow at a staggering 26% CAGR between 2013-2018, this further supports the need for IT vendors to sharpen up their integration capabilities and offer solutions that genuinely deliver coordination across the IT landscape.
- The NHS is investing in support for harnessing technology such as interoperability: On the 31st July 2015, the NHS published a support pack for all vanguard sites. In section 5 of this document, it speaks to what will be made available for participating vanguard sites. Apart from a £200m transformation fund (of which around £140m remains unallocated as of this blog post), they plan to provide dedicated support for items such as interoperability, information governance and digital strategy. They are also looking to leverage best practice examples both from within and outside of the UK and so IT vendors will need to ensure they have solid case studies to back up their sales pitches.
Best Regards,
Jonathan Cordwell
Research Analyst, Healthcare Strategy
ResearchNetwork, CSC
- Office for National Statistics, Statistical bulletin: National Survey of Bereaved People (VOICES), 2013, http://www.ons.gov.uk/ons/rel/subnational-health1/national-survey-of-bereaved-people--voices-/2013/stb---national-survey-of-bereaved-people--voices-.html?format=print
- NHS England, New care models – vanguard sites, http://www.england.nhs.uk/ourwork/futurenhs/5yfv-ch3/new-care-models/
- MarketsandMarkets, Population Health Management Market worth $40.6 Billion by 2018, http://www.marketsandmarkets.com/PressReleases/population-health-management.asp
- NHS England, Vanguard support package launched, 31 July 2015, http://www.england.nhs.uk/2015/07/31/vanguard-support/
