Patient Referral Management Software Market Size, Share & Trends Analysis Report By Type (Inbound, Outbound), By Deployment Mode (Cloud & Web-based, On-premise), By End-use, By Region, And Segment Forecasts, 2022 - 2030

Report Overview

The global patient referral management software market size was valued at USD 6.98 billion in 2021 and is expected to expand at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 17.6% from 2022 to 2030. Patient referral software combines a variety of structured and unstructured patient information and tracks patient referrals throughout their treatment span. Healthcare professionals are frequently opting to employ referral management systems to improve communication among healthcare providers and patients. The referral management software also aids in keeping track of patient treatments.

Moreover, the rise in the aging population coupled with an increase in the number of initiatives undertaken by government authorities to improve the adoption of healthcare IT solutions is anticipated to drive the market demand. In December 2019, Eceptionist, a company offering telehealth and referral management software, announced the launch of an updated software version featuring “eConsult” services.

In the initial phases, the COVID-19 pandemic affected medical practices of all sizes due to the disruption of care provision to a high volume of patients. In various countries, the demand for precise diagnosis and treatment had increased with the rising cases of COVID-19 patients. The growing need for virtual care has increased owing to the need for social distance between doctors and patients and has bolstered the use of telehealth and referral management tools and services.

Several healthcare providers are increasingly adopting referral management solutions to improve their daily business. For instance, Village Health Partners (VHP), a provider of healthcare tools, utilized patient referral software offered by BlockitNow, Inc. to improve patient interactions during social distancing among patients and lab technicians. In addition, supportive initiatives from governments globally are anticipated to drive the adoption of relevant IT solutions to improve the healthcare scenario. In India, the Karnataka government launched the online referral system under Ayushman Bharat-Arogya in June 2022. The program is likely to help in increasing the demand for patient referral software solutions and improve patient healthcare needs at minimum costs.

Type Insights

The inbound segment accounted for the largest revenue share of over 75.0% in 2021 and is expected to expand at the fastest CAGR over the forecast period. The inbound referrals are received from multiple sources such as fax, emails, phone, and walk-ins in a single attempt. For instance, Referral MD software provides features such as incoming referrals, patient engagement tools, and direct patient scheduling. The helping analytical tools provide metrics of the patient’s ongoing process and historical data, which can be re-targeted in containing the patients, improving their satisfaction, and inviting new clients.

The growing need for reduced referral processing time, improved communication among healthcare providers, and digitalization is anticipated to drive the adoption of inbound referrals. Continuously bringing in new patients is important for increasing the revenue of medical practices. Building a trustworthy referral network is a great strategy to attract new clients in addition to advertising and networking with insurance companies. Referral patients are more satisfied and profitable than normal patients. It implies that a referral program should be a part of any medical practice's marketing plan toolkit. The most important advantage of a physician referral scheme is that it generates a steady flow of new patients.

Deployment Mode Insights

The cloud and web-based segment dominated the market with a revenue share of over 70.0% in 2021 and is likely to grow at the fastest rate over the forecast period owing to its flexible deployment and its ability to reduce the costs related to IT infrastructure. The referral marketing software uses phone applications and social communication tools that are easily collaborated with the cloud system. In addition, the increasing availability of cloud solutions is likely to drive the cloud and web-based segment in the market.

The cloud-based solutions provide on-demand self-serving insights, minimal upfront capital investment for hardware, and exceptional capacity flexibility, among others. This sector has witnessed rapid expansion. A database in cloud is a real-time database that synchronizes data to every connected client. The use of a cloud-based referral platform enables two-way communication among healthcare practitioners and the healthcare community. In August 2019, Researchers at Moorfields Eye Hospital developed a cloud-based solution in collaboration with Big Picture, which measures whether patients require referral to a hospital.

End-use Insights

In 2021, the providers segment held the largest share of over 50.0% owing to the growing burden of patient referrals. The healthcare providers attend to the majority of patients as they provide the first point of consultation for a range of general and specialized health issues. Therefore, providers hold a large pool of patients with them for referring to different hospitals and segments. In July 2020, ReferralMD collaborated with the Athena health marketplace initiative program to offer referral management and a patient access platform. This partnership provides ReferralMD with Athena’s health network of healthcare providers to easily engage with the patients.

The patients segment is anticipated to expand at the fastest CAGR of 20.4% over the forecast period. The rising geriatric population and an increase in the rate of chronic illnesses are driving the use of patient referral systems. The patients are evaluated by the healthcare providers on the basis of necessary diagnostic measures and then they are transferred to specialists depending on the care requirements.

Regional Insights

In 2021, North America dominated the market with a share of over 55.0% owing to rising technological advancements in healthcare IT and the growing adoption of patient referral software systems. The COVID-19 pandemic has sparked improvements in cloud computing and patient monitoring. For instance, in April 2020, GE Healthcare introduced a cutting-edge cloud-based remote monitoring solution that is designed to help doctors with COVID-19 patients. In addition, in June 2022, Think Research Corporation, a provider of healthcare software solutions based in Canada, announced that it has expanded its Ontario eReferral Program with Caredove. The eReferral interoperability is expected to help in connecting clinical users with more than 100 community support services and homes.

Asia Pacific is expected to grow at the fastest rate of 20.3% over the forecast period owing to a rapidly aging population base in the region, growing demand for affordable healthcare, and an increase in the prevalence of chronic diseases. In addition, the pandemic has fueled the demand for better patient management. Supportive government initiatives to boost the adoption of healthcare IT are likely to fuel growth. The referral system will aid in improving patient demands and developing the healthcare IT infrastructure in the region.

Key Companies & Market Share Insights

The companies operating in this market are focusing on strategic partnerships, collaborations with other organizations, and innovative solutions. Furthermore, the market players are undertaking strategies such as acquisitions, new product launches, joint ventures and agreements, and expansion in other regions to increase their market outreach. In June 2022, Athena Health, a provider of healthcare IT software, launched a voice-automated and mobile-integrated digital assistant that speeds up information retrieval and allows healthcare providers to use Athena health’s electronic health records (EHR) solution. The clinicians can spend less time on the computer and more time connecting with patients by utilizing voice recognition capabilities. Some prominent players in the global patient referral management software market include:

• Allscripts Healthcare Solutions, Inc.

• Athena Health

• Cerner Corporation

• Eceptionist, Inc.

• Ehealth Technologies

• Insync Healthcare

Patient Referral Management Software Market Report Scope

Global Patient Referral Management Software Market Segmentation

This report forecasts revenue growth at the global, regional, and country levels and provides an analysis of the latest industry trends and opportunities in each of the sub-segments from 2017 to 2030. For this study, Grand View Research has segmented the global patient referral management software market report based on type, deployment mode, end-use, and region:

• Type Outlook (Revenue, USD Million, 2017 - 2030)

  • Inbound

  • Outbound

• Deployment Mode Outlook (Revenue, USD Million, 2017 - 2030)

  • Cloud & Web-based

  • On-premise

• End-use Outlook (Revenue, USD Million, 2017 - 2030)

  • Providers

  • Payers

  • Patients

  • Others

• Regional Outlook (Revenue, USD Million, 2017 - 2030)

  • North America

    • U.S.

    • Canada

  • Europe

    • U.K.

    • Germany

    • France

    • Italy

    • Spain

    • Russia

  • Asia Pacific

    • Japan

    • China

    • India

    • Australia

    • South Korea

    • Singapore

  • Latin America

    • Brazil

    • Mexico

    • Argentina

  • Middle East & Africa

    • South Africa

    • Saudi Arabia

    • UAE