Global Healthcare IT Consulting
Which Firms Are Considered for Implementation and Advisory Work?

1. Deloitte, PwC Most Broadly Considered Firms for HIT Work

Deloitte and PwC headline the list of 89 unique firms that provider organizations indicate they would consider for HIT consulting work. Deloitte is widely considered and respected for their advisory and implementation work. PwC is looked at almost exclusively for IT advisory engagements; infrequently, they are considered a strong option for hospitalled implementation projects. Thanks to expertise in UK and Middle East EMR implementations, The HCI Group (a relatively new multiregional firm) is the only smaller firm to break into the ranks of the large multiregional consulting firms in terms of total considerations. KPMG, Accenture, and EY round out the list of top 6 firms considered. Looking to the future, about 40% of provider organizations have plans to engage a consulting firm in the next two years. As was the case with the US market 7–10 years ago, large-scale EMR deployments are the single biggest driver of consulting engagements due to the strategy, advisory, and implementation work they require.

2. English-Speaking Providers Look to Leverage The HCI Group's Implementation Expertise

EMR purchasing trends show that much of the potential upcoming implementation work will occur in Europe. Providers in English-speaking countries in Europe and (to a lesser extent) the Middle East look to The HCI Group most frequently due to the firm’s familiarity and expertise working with the US-based EMR solutions from Allscripts, Cerner, and Epic. Myriad regional firms are also considered for help with such projects, though in some cases, a lack of expertise with multinational EMR solutions makes those firms less compelling options. While considered less often than The HCI Group for implementation work, Deloitte and Accenture are seen as viable options; EY, KPMG, and PwC are considered primarily for IT advisory work. Provider organizations in the Middle East and Australia prefer to keep implementation work in-house in order to develop and retain as much talent as possible. Much implementation work in Latin America is done by EMR vendors or recommended resellers, and there is relatively little interest from provider organizations in other third-party firms.

3. Deloitte Frequently Considered for Advisory Service Work

Provider organizations with specific plans for HIT advisory work mention Deloitte twice as often as other firms. Organizations in every region say they would strongly consider Deloitte for advisory work. Other big consulting firms are less frequently shortlisted—and the geography in which they are considered is not as diverse. For example, Middle Eastern organizations often mention EY, who has a strong local presence; outside that region, however, EY is rarely a strong consideration. PwC has mindshare across multiple regions thanks to high-level ministerial and government engagements. However, hospitals with upcoming projects mention PwC less frequently, and PwC is rarely brought up outside of English-speaking settings. Providers in many regions consider KPMG but feel the firm is stronger at financial consulting than HIT work.

4. Regional Firms Attractive for Cost and Country-Specific Knowledge, Often Lack "Big EMR" Experience

Many provider organizations feel large multiregional consulting firms are too costly, yet some feel they get substantial value with higher-priced Accenture and Deloitte. Other multiregional firms KPMG, PwC, and EY are critiqued for a perceived lack of healthcare expertise. As a result, regional firms are often preferred for implementations (especially in Europe, Canada, and Latin America) due to their local background, regulatory understanding, and lower price point. Local firms, however, often lack desired experience with multiregional EMR vendors. Due to lower costs and local understanding gained through regional acquisitions, The HCI Group is perceived more as a regional vendor.

Designer
Natalie Jamison