ICT&health August 11, 2025
Vendor lock-in has a bad reputation. Once an electronic medical record (EHR) system is implemented, it can feel like a trap that’s difficult to escape. A lack of APIs and poor interoperability often make integration with third-party applications nearly impossible. The IT vendor may control pricing, while the healthcare provider is limited to only the features the vendor offers. However, vendor lock-in, if strategically managed, can be beneficial.
Implementing electronic health records is like a lifetime marriage
Vendor lock-in occurs when a hospital, clinic, or individual practitioner becomes reliant on the health IT services of a specific provider. Critics argue that this limits the flexibility of digitalization and hinders innovation. It is also costly, as health IT companies can dictate...
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