FierceHealthIT recently came out with their top 10 companies that are “Shaking up” Health IT. They tried to focus on companies that we haven’t probably heard of yet. I love the notion and found the article pretty interesting even if the site was so slow to load that I almost stopped reading.

Here’s their list:
10. NaviMedix
9. PatientsLikeMe
8. MDVIP
7. Get Well Networks
6. MedApps
5. athenahealth
4. Devon IT
3. QlikTech
2. Practice Fusion
1. Enhanced Medical Decisions (EMD)

Quite honestly, I’m not sure how they ordered this list, but it is what it is. Lists are meant to be informative and not a final authority.

I was most intrigued by Devon IT’s thin client model and also Practice Fusion’s free EMR model. I must admit that while I’ve been skeptical of thin clients in the past, I’m actually coming around to the idea of a thin client. Too bad I just ordered all brand new desktops or I might really consider Devon IT’s technology. I think they would be a great potential partner for an EMR consultant. I think it’s ridiculous for Practice Fusion to think that they are going to have 10,000 physicians using their system be the end of the year. I’d be surprised if they can get 10,000 physicians to sign in and try their system. Haven’t they already seen LifeRecord EMR and other free EMRs. There’s a whole lot of competition in that field. I’m not sure why 10,000 physicians would be interested in this new free EMR. Maybe they have a better marketing plan than I expect.

I do have to argue the articles premise that most of these companies are working on consumer-type problems and that the industry is going to see a two-way flow of information between doctors and patients like we’ve never seen before. Let’s be honest and realistic here. It’s just not going to happen. There are a myriad of forces that are going to stop it, but I think there’s one major force that will stop this from becoming a reality. There’s no payment structure for this type of interaction with a doctor.

One day this type of interaction may occur, but I can tell you that it’s not going to happen in the foreseeable future.