The latest study from Kalorama Information
pegs health care IT market growth at about 11 percent over the next 5
years. They estimate the market for clinical IT to exceed $25 billion
by 2009. The current clinical IT market is estimated at $23 billion,
with about $15.4 billion being spent on hospital systems. A surprising
"feature" of the market research study appears to include some
political perspective:

The government can have a major influence in encouraging or
discouraging investment in health IT, the report states. Despite the
federal government spending more than $900 million on health IT in
fiscal 2004, it describes government programs as too diffuse. A “true
leadership role requires that federal efforts be brought together into
a coherent program of support,” the report states.

The
report also questions the often-touted links between the use of health
IT and improvements in health care quality. “Further research is needed
to better document and understand the link between IT and quality,” the
report states.

Describing actual and potential federal
programs to promote health IT use, the report says federal actions can
also discourage implementation. One example is the Health Insurance
Portability and Accountability Act of 1996, which is a set of rules to
be followed by health plans, doctors, hospitals and other healthcare
providers.