Currently, the U.S. has a major lead on other nations in the adoption of electronic health records and other forms of health information technology. A greater number of providers are using technology to improve quality and reduce costs, while investment from the federal government is unmatched globally.
This has given the U.S. an important edge in the field of health IT. While other industries in the country are drying up, technology has been seen by some as a potential export, which could buoy a slumping overall economy.
However, the gap may be narrowing. There have been indications that the health IT sectors of emerging markets may be catching up to the U.S. Some experts have expressed concern that this may impinge on American companies' share of the overall health IT market. However, others have said that the growth in these emerging markets may provide examples of innovation that worked to improve quality while reducing costs, and the U.S. may be able to learn from these experiences.
The latest indication that the U.S. is losing its lead came earlier this week in the form of a report from Pricewaterhouse Cooper. The paper, titled Medical Technology Innovation Scorecard: The race for global leadership, indicates that emerging markets in China, Brazil and India are gaining ground in their ability to deliver innovative care.
Furthermore, it says that these countries may surpass developed nations in the use of electronic health records and other forms of health IT sometime in the next decade.
The report scored nations on a set of 86 different metrics. These measurements were then used to grade them on a scale of 1 to 9. The U.S. was far and away the current leader, receiving a score of 7.1. Other developed nations such as Germany and the UK came next, scoring more than two points fewer. China and Brazil were given a 3.4 and 2.7 respectively.
While future projections indicated that the U.S. score will likely hold steady over the next decade, there may be a reversal coming for Europe and developing countries. The UK, Germany and France are expected to see a decline in health IT innovation, while China and Brazil are projected to grow rapidly.
"A confluence of social, demographic, economic and technology changes is altering the dynamics of the medical technology field," said Mike Swanik, who worked on the report. "As a result, ecosystems that promote medical technology innovation are being established around the world. These changes are creating opportunities for companies – and entire nations."
While some view these findings with trepidation, others see opportunity. The Office of the National Coordinator for Health IT recently inked a deal with European authorities to work on standards of interoperability, according to Government Health IT. The agreement with the European Digital Agenda commissioner could result in a global network of providers who are able to exchange information freely, opening up new avenues of cooperation and productivity.
Additionally, some experts have said that the situation may allow U.S. technology firms and healthcare providers to learn from the experiences of their foreign counterparts.
Executives from McKinsey & Company recently wrote in the McKinsey Quarterly that there are innovative efforts to improve the delivery of care through the use of technology happening around the world. For example, they highlighted an effort in Mexico to provide medical advice and connect patients to care over the phone. The service costs $5 per month. Additionally, Indian providers are using technology to provide high-quality maternity care for one fifth the cost.
While increasing global competition is sure to impact the market share of U.S. firms, there may be many benefits that result from the situation. Recognizing these opportunities may help give companies an edge.