COCIR has published the results of a survey conducted among European acute care hospitals on the availability, use and investment plans for health information and communication technologies (health ICTs).
This market, worth €2.5 billion in 2010, is estimated to grow moderately to €2.8 billion by 2015. Health ICTs include different information systems supporting hospitals' daily workflow. The data reveals that while 90% of hospitals use administrative information systems, most of them are insufficiently equipped in all other types of information and communication technologies.
The report focuses on clinical information systems (CIS) in particular. These are used to provide healthcare professionals with rapid access to patient data and guide them when making medical decisions.
Though essential to improving and modernising healthcare delivery, investment in these systems remains limited, undermining healthcare providers' ability to respond to increasing demand for greater efficiency and safety, as well as upgraded quality of care.
COCIR encourages governments and payers to collect scientific evidence on the economic and clinical benefits of clinical information systems. Healthcare professionals should also be provided with adequate IT skills and training to facilitate the adoption of these promising innovative technologies.
COCIR Secretary General Nicole Denjoy said: "More investment in clinical information systems is required to accelerate the uptake of health ICTs in hospitals and improve healthcare delivery."