Referral Management Market Assessment, By Component [Services, Software], By Type [Outbound Referrals, Inbound Referrals], By Deployment Mode [Cloud-Based, On-Premises], By End-user [Healthcare Providers, Healthcare Payers, Patients, Others], By Region, O

Referral Management Market Assessment, By Component [Services, Software], By Type [Outbound Referrals, Inbound Referrals], By Deployment Mode [Cloud-Based, On-Premises], By End-user [Healthcare Providers, Healthcare Payers, Patients, Others], By Region, Opportunities and Forecast, 2017-2031F

Global referral management market is projected to witness a CAGR of 13.67% during the forecast period 2024-2031, growing from USD 5.82 billion in 2023 to USD 16.22 billion in 2031F. The market's growth is supported by the rapid expansion of the healthcare sector, technological advancements in the healthcare industry, the development of novel technologies, and increasing product requirements due to the growing burden of chronic diseases.

The increasing investments by various market players toward developing products with advanced capabilities is one of the major trends in the global referral management market. Such investments are expected to support the development of referral processing systems that can improve the accuracy and efficiency of healthcare operations. These efforts also aim to eliminate time-consuming tasks such as manual data entry, often leading to errors and inefficiencies. For instance, in April 2024, Medsender, Inc. unveiled its AI medical assistant capable of validating insurance, creating patient charts in the Electronic Health Record (EHR), scheduling appointments, and reading referrals. The new artificial intelligence (AI) feature is expected to aid healthcare professionals in detecting incoming referrals from

The rising demand for referral management services and software can also be attributed to the rapid growth of the healthcare sector due to the rising prevalence of chronic diseases and the digitization of healthcare services in various regions across the globe. This increase in demand is propelling the requirement for referrals increasing the burden on healthcare professionals, thus bolstering the adoption of referral management software and services to streamline the functioning of healthcare facilities and reduce the workload of healthcare professionals.

Rising Government Initiatives to Support the Development of IT Solutions

The increasing efforts by various governments to bolster the utilization of IT solutions for the healthcare sector can be attributed to the different advantages associated with the utilization of such solutions. These advantages include reduced costs, decreased medical errors, improved patient outcomes, easy access to patient records by healthcare professionals, and enhanced patient care.

The increasing adoption of online referral management systems in different regions across the globe is also expected to provide lucrative growth opportunities for the market. In June 2022, an online referral system was launched in Karnataka, India, to ensure the referral of patients to tertiary healthcare facilities is carried out in a seamless manner. The referral of patients to secondary and tertiary care centers from primary care centers switched to online platforms. The new Online Referral System (ORS) is expected to prevent the occurrence of fraudulent activities and conclude the referral process in a time-efficient manner, increasing patient convenience. Other benefits offered by online referral management systems include improved communication, reduced leakage, and reduced manual interventions.

New Product Launches with Enhanced Capabilities Support Market Growth

The rising investments by leading market players and start-ups in the development of software with novel features and advanced capabilities are anticipated to drive the growth of the market over the forecast period. Such developments allow healthcare providers to optimize communications between themselves and other departments and boost patient outreach. For instance, in March 2024 Artera, Inc., one of the leading players in SaaS digital patient communications, announced the expansion of its Artera Harmony platform with Artera Referrals. Artera Referrals provides a time-efficient solution for healthcare professionals struggling with referral management and referral leakage. The Artera Referrals include throttling queues, performance reporting, referral conversation templates, triggers and filters, and writebacks.

North America Accounts for the Highest Market Share

The growth of the market in the region can be attributed to the presence of a well-established healthcare infrastructure, the strong presence of various leading market players, and the high rate of acceptance of advanced technologies. The utilization of referral management software and services allows for improved and streamlined communications among the different healthcare providers. The growing popularity of value-based care in countries such as Canada and the United States is further propelling the demand for referral management services and software as they aid in enhancing the experience and the quality of care provided to the patients. The increasing popularity of value-based care can also be attributed to their role in reducing costs for patients and ensuring that high-quality care is provided to them.

The market expansion in North America is also supported by the increasing cooperation between various companies in order to improve the e-referral experience for both healthcare providers and patients. In January 2022, Novari Health, in coordination with the Ontario eServices Program, announced the completion of the first integration phase of the solutions provided by the organizations. This integration enables physicians to directly send e-referrals from the Electronic Medical Record (EMR) Systems to hospitals that are using Novari eRequest for processing and intake.

Software Holds Significant Share in the Global Referral Management Market

The expansion of the software segment is supported by their increasing utilization due to their ability to expedite and automate the referral processes in various healthcare establishments. The growing awareness of the various advantages offered by the software is also bolstering its utilization in various regions across the globe. For example, embedding features such as provider pages, online scheduling, and physician directories in referral management software allows for improved utilization for both patients and healthcare providers. They also provide consolidation of multichannel referrals in a single queue, ensuring efficient working of the hospital staff and allowing them to easily monitor the progress of the treatment.

The growth of the segment is also supported by increasing partnerships between referral management software companies and healthcare organizations. In July 2023, Mav3rik Pty Ltd. announced the completion of a six-month long project in which they aided in designing an electronic referral management system for South Australian Health (SA Health). The system will enable general practitioners to share referral forms digitally to outpatient clinics, enhancing patient convenience and access to healthcare. The system also automates the transfer of referrals among administration users and healthcare professionals.

Future Market Scenario (2024-2031F)

As per the global referral management market analysis, automation and artificial intelligence (AI) are expected to boost market growth by improving patient care and ensuring the conclusion of various tasks in a timely manner. The integration of referral management with AI is expected to provide various advantages, including the availability of advanced predictive analytics, allowing healthcare professionals to personalize referral decisions by assessing patient risks in an accurate manner. The continuous adaptation and learning will ensure that the referral processes are in alignment with medical practices. The utilization of AI is also expected to streamline the referral process by reducing administrative burdens, improving satisfaction and patient outcomes.

Additionally, automation of processes in referral management is expected to eliminate complex interactions between the departments, improving the quality of care provided to the patients. Incorporation of automation in referral management is also expected to increase the efficiency of the healthcare professionals by reducing repetitive tasks. Such advantages are expected to boost the global referral management market size as the demand for referral management is expected to rise in the coming years due to the increasing prevalence of various chronic diseases.

Key Players Landscape and Outlook

The key players in the referral management market include Optum, Inc., Athenahealth, eHealth Technologies, Veradigm LLC, and Oracle Cerner. The development of novel technologies by different companies is enhancing patient convenience and ensuring that sensitive information remains protected, thus providing lucrative growth opportunities in the market. In February 2024, ATLAS Technology LLC launched a technology solution to strengthen its relationship with the referral partners. The new Referral Acquisition Management Program (RAMP) will manage the relationship of the suppliers with the healthcare professionals that refer patients to Complex Rehab Technology (CRT) and Durable Medical Equipment (DME) businesses. It will also organize referral contact lists and create custom contact workflow.