Highly concentrated markets of electronic health records data systems in public health centres and specialist care hospitals in 2017 in Finland

Authors

• Vesa Jormanainen THL
• Kimmo Parhiala
• Jarmo Reponen

DOI: https://doi.org/10.23996/fjhw.75554

Keywords:

Electronic Health Records, primary health care [http://www.yso.fi/onto/yso/p14073], hospitals [http://www.yso.fi/onto/yso/p1090], public health systems research, Herfindahl-Hirschman index

Abstract

Data systems for EHR and social care client data processing are usually commercial products, the trademarks of which differ from each other, for example, by usability. Previously conducted research on EHR and client data system trademarks in Finland have been based on survey responses of samples of professionals and organisations. Our study objective was to investigate market shares of EHR data systems used in public primary health care (health centres) and hospitals in 2017 in all municipalities, hospital districts and specific catchment areas in 2017. Health centres used six EHR trademarks in 2017 whereas nine in 2002. Based on populations covered, the market share was the highest for Effica (43%) and 36% for Pegasos, 7% for Lifecare, 6% for Mediatri, 5% for Graafinen Finstar and 1% for Abilita. These trademarks were produced by 4 data system providers. The number of different EHR trademarks used by health centres varied between 1–5 by hospital district. Only one EHR was used by health centres in 9 hospital districts. Public hospitals used five EHR data systems (Abilita, Effica, ESKO, Mediatri and Uranus) in 2017 whereas seven in 2001. These trademarks were produced by five data system providers. The same EHR trademark was used by health centres and hospitals in nine hospital district areas. The number of EHRs used by health centres varied between 4–5 and by hospitals between 2–4 in specific catchment areas. EHR data systems’ markets were highly concentrated in 2017 (Herfindahl-Hirschman Index was 3300).