U.S. Ambulatory EHR Market Size, Share, Forecast, & Trends Analysis by Deployment Mode (Cloud, On-premise) Type (All-in-one, Modular) Application (Practice, Patient Portal, CPOE, CDS, Referral, Population Health), Practice, End User - Forecast to 2031

The U.S. Ambulatory EHR Market was valued at $2.53 billion in 2023. This market is expected to reach $3.97 billion by 2031 from an estimated $2.67 billion in 2024, at a CAGR of 5.8% during the forecast period from 2024 to 2031.

U.S. Ambulatory EHR Market Size & Forecast

Key factors driving the growth of this market include increasing government support for the adoption of EHR solutions, patients’ increasing preference for ambulatory care over in-patient care, and healthcare organizations’ growing need to reduce operating costs.

Moreover, the integration of artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) technologies and the changing technological landscape in developing countries are expected to create growth opportunities for market stakeholders. The high deployment costs and high product replacement rates pose a challenge to the growth of the market.

U.S. Ambulatory EHR Market Growth Drivers

Increasing Government Support for the Adoption of EHR Solutions

The U.S. government is increasingly supporting the adoption of EHR solutions due to their various advantages over traditional paper-based health records, which has led to the widespread implementation of EHR. Both patients and ambulatory practices benefit from EHR adoption due to enhanced patient treatment, improved care coordination, faster access to records, greater efficiency in practice, savings through decreased paperwork, increased patient participation & transparency, and improved diagnostic and patient outcomes resulting from accurate prescribing. According to the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology, as of 2021, around 9 out of 10 (88%) U.S. office-based physicians had adopted an Electronic Health Record (EHR) solution, and nearly 4 in 5 (78%) had adopted a certified EHR solution. Moreover, the U.S. government is undertaking various initiatives to implement EMR/EHR in various healthcare facilities, which is further expected to create awareness among ambulatory centers in the U.S., driving EHR adoption among outpatient centers across the U.S.

Increasing Patient Preference for Ambulatory Care

Many patients prefer outpatient care over in-patient care due to its convenience. The adoption of ambulatory EHRs has increased drastically over the last decade due to outpatient treatments becoming the preferred option for most patients. The number of Ambulatory Surgery Centers (ASCs) in the U.S. has increased steadily over the last decade, with over 6,377 ASCs operating in the U.S. as of August 2024. An ambulatory surgery center allows patients to be discharged within 23 hours of care, reducing the risk of hospital-acquired infections. The overall cost of care in ambulatory settings is lower for both patients and payers due to lower costs of staffing, space, and supplies. These factors have led to the proliferation of ambulatory care centers in the U.S.

Moreover, patients have increasingly opted for ambulatory care in the last few years. The shift toward ambulatory care is mainly attributed to advances in clinical technology, healthcare systems’ shift toward value-based care, faster patient recovery, and shorter hospital stays in ambulatory care settings.

Furthermore, many outpatient facilities are being expanded to cater to the increasing number of patients. These facilities are more accessible and convenient for patients. Since the services offered in ambulatory care centers and outpatient clinics are limited, these facilities charge less than hospitals, further supporting the shift in patients’ preference toward ambulatory care. As a result, larger health systems and networks are keen on acquiring outpatient facilities to retain their patients and improve referral networks. Larger healthcare networks are also increasing outpatient budgets, leading to the introduction of technologies such as EHR and telehealth systems. Thus, patients’ increasing preference for ambulatory care over in-patient care is increasing the adoption of ambulatory EHRs, driving the growth of this market.

U.S. Ambulatory EHR Market Opportunity

Integration of Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning Technologies

Electronic Health Records (EHRs) are a digital collection of all sources of patient data consolidated into a single database that includes medical histories, data related to treatments, diagnoses, prescriptions, allergies to medications or foods, immunization records, images generated laboratories, and test results. The primary aim of implementing EHR is to enhance patient care through improved treatment quality. The integration of artificial intelligence and machine learning into EHR solutions is expected to help achieve this goal.

One of the most advantageous aspects of integrating EHR into healthcare processes is data availability. The easy accessibility of data in EHRs makes them ideal for many ML-powered data science operations. Artificial Intelligence (AI) makes EHR solutions more flexible and intelligent. Artificial intelligence and machine learning can be implemented in various applications such as data mining, natural language processing, data analytics & visualization, predictive analytics, and regulatory compliance. AI is also being used in various fields to enhance clinical decisions by analyzing EHRs. For instance, AI techniques have been widely used with EHR data in cardiology studies for the early detection of heart failure, to predict the onset of congestive heart failure, and to improve risk assessment in patients with suspected coronary artery disease. The current AI capabilities of EHRs are limited, but rapid improvements are expected in the near future. Moreover, companies are already offering features such as data extraction from free text, diagnostic or predictive algorithms, clinical documentation & data entry, and clinical decision support to improve treatment quality. Thus, AI and machine learning can enable EHRs to adapt to users’ preferences in real time and improve clinical outcomes and patients’ quality of life.

U.S. Ambulatory EHR Market Study: Key Findings

The Cloud/Web-Based Ambulatory EHR Segment to Account for the Largest Share of this Market in 2024

Based on deployment mode, the U.S. ambulatory EHR market is segmented into cloud/web-based ambulatory EHR and on-premise ambulatory EHR. In 2024, the cloud/web-based ambulatory EHR segment is expected to account for a larger share of 79.2% of the U.S. ambulatory EHR market. This segment’s large market share can be attributed to the benefits of cloud/web-based ambulatory EHR systems, including lower upfront costs, automated data backups, reduced maintenance requirements, and quicker deployment. Additionally, advantages such as enhanced flexibility, real-time monitoring, stronger data security, and lower implementation costs compared to on-premise solutions contribute to the higher adoption of cloud-based EHR systems.

The All-In-One Ambulatory EHR Segment to Account for the Largest Share of this Market in 2024

Based on type, the U.S. ambulatory EHR market is segmented into all-in-one ambulatory EHR and modular ambulatory EHR. In 2024, the all-in-one ambulatory EHR segment is expected to account for a larger share of 68.2% of the U.S. ambulatory EHR market. This segment’s large market share can be attributed to the benefits of all-in-one systems, including ease of use, comprehensive functionality, and seamless integration of software and hardware.

The Large Practices Segment to Account for the Largest Share of this Market in 2024

Based on practice size, the U.S. ambulatory EHR market is segmented into large practices, small-to-medium-sized practices, and solo practices. In 2024, the large practices segment is expected to account for the largest share of 49.6% of the U.S. ambulatory EHR market. This segment’s large market share can be attributed to the strong bargaining power of large practices when selecting vendors and their superior financial resources, enabling them to invest in robust EHR systems that offer scalability and seamless integration with other healthcare technologies.

Moreover, the large practices segment is projected to record the highest CAGR during the forecast period.

The Practice Management Segment to Account for the Largest Share of this Market in 2024

Based on application, the U.S. ambulatory EHR market is segmented into practice management, patient portals, computerized physician order entry (CPOE), clinical decision support (CDS), population health management, referral management, and other applications. In 2024, the practice management segment is expected to account for the largest share of 26.0% of the U.S. ambulatory EHR market. This segment’s large market share can be attributed to the rising need for practice management software for various tasks, such as capturing patient data, scheduling appointments, and performing billing tasks. Practice management software impacts nearly every aspect of clinical workflow, managing patient encounters from start to finish. It typically includes features such as appointment scheduling, patient demographics, resource planning, document management, billing, and claim management. These functionalities are essential to the daily operations of ambulatory practices.

The Hospital-owned Ambulatory Centers Segment to Account for the Largest Share of this Market in 2024

Based on end user, the U.S. ambulatory EHR market is segmented into hospital-owned ambulatory centers and independent centers. In 2024, the hospital-owned ambulatory centers segment is expected to account for a larger share of the U.S. ambulatory EHR market. Hospital-owned centers are typically required to meet more stringent accreditation standards than non-hospital-based outpatient clinics. The increasing need to organize unstructured health data, coupled with the availability of resources for adopting EHR solutions, contributes to the large market share of this segment.

U.S. Ambulatory EHR Market: Key Companies

The report includes a competitive landscape based on an extensive assessment of the key growth strategies adopted by leading market participants over the past three to four years. The key players profiled in the U.S. ambulatory EHR market report are Greenway Health (U.S.), CureMD Healthcare (U.S.), AdvancedMD, Inc. (U.S.), Kareo, Inc. (U.S.), CompuGroup Medical Inc. (U.S.), Athenahealth, Inc. (U.S.), Nextgen Healthcare Inc. (U.S.), and eClinicalWorks LLC (U.S.).

U.S. Ambulatory EHR Market Industry Overview: Latest Developments from Key Industry Players

• In October 2024, AdvancedMD (U.S.) introduced 30 updates across its practice management, EHR, and patient engagement platform. These updates enhance telehealth functionalities and improve e-prescribing workflows. Additionally, the company launched a new patient messaging platform that includes a dashboard and communication features.
• In May 2024, Greenway Health partnered with DrFirst Inc. (U.S.) to enhance medication adherence and reduce prescription abandonment by leveraging automation technology.
• In April 2024, eClinicalWorks, LLC (U.S.) partnered with American Medical Administrators (AMA). This partnership aims to leverage eClinicalWorks and its Healow platform to offer enhanced, unified solutions for healthcare providers.
• In February 2023, AdvancedMD (U.S.) released over 30 updates across its EHR, practice management, and patient engagement platforms. These updates focus on enhancing operational agility and streamlining billing functions.

Summary Table of U.S. Ambulatory EHR Market 

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