According to a newly released study by Kalorma Information, the healthcare information technology market will grow by two-thirds to $38 billion by 2009.

CIO Insight writer Stacy Lawrence wrote on Monday (article) that the market research firm’s report estimated that at present only 10 to 15 percent of 5,500 hospitals in the United States have some form of a simple IT system. If 15 percent to 20 percent of U.S. hospitals move toward adopting complete electronic data management systems, the IT industry could reap a multimillion dollar windfall.

How big a windfall?

According to the report, the market for hospital IT could grow to more than $25 billion in four years, while the overall HIT market could reach some $38 billion.

With promises of improved patient care, few mistakes, greater efficiences and cost savings, it seems likely we will see rapid deployment of IT systems throughout the healthcare system from EMRs to PHRs and everything in between.