ROCKVILLE, Md., May 16, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Kalorama Information said market for EMR was $29.7 billion in 2017 as indicated it is expected to rise to $39.7 billion by 2022. The healthcare market research firm reports on the industry each year, and includes revenues for EMR/EHR systems, CPOE systems, and directly related services such as installation, training, servicing, and consulting which are key profit areas for companies. It does not include PACS or hardware. The firm published its latest report, EMR 2018, this month.

"We believe adoption and upgrading activities will still be stimulating growth in 2017-2022," said Mary Anne Crandall. "As new systems are sold, companies will still earn revenues from existing clients in servicing and consulting services."

The electronic medical record (EMR) is a computer-based patient medical record. Over the last 30 years, medical institutions have encouraged the shift towards computerization to help manage patient information. However, the early medical information systems were not integrated. During the late 1980s, efforts were made to transform these individual laboratory computers into integrated clinical information systems. This meant that information pertaining to the patient's test results, including blood chemistry, microbiology, radiology, biopsy reports, etc., could be retrieved from a single terminal. Later, healthcare providers began incorporating parts of the clinical narrative by employing transcription services. Surgical operative notes, discharge notes, summary of the patient's medical problems, and lists of their current medications started appearing in the clinical information system.
Medical records permanently document information relevant to the patient's health care management. A medical record facilitates the provision of continuity of care to the patient. It also helps in planning patient care and documenting prescriptions from multiple physicians or healthcare providers. These records assist in protecting the legal interest of the patient and the healthcare provider and help in processing of insurance claims. After each clinic visit, information about the reasons a client sought medical care, the medical history, results of diagnostic tests, and the plan of therapy is recorded. Other information may include laboratory test results, physicians' prescriptions, referrals ordered to healthcare providers, instructions for self-care, and follow-up visits.

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