An aging population, cost restraints, government financial incentives and medical error reduction efforts are key drivers in the exploding handheld device market for health care solutions according to a report published by Kalorama Information. “Hanhelds in Healthcare: The World Market for PDAs, Tablet PCs, Handheld Monitors, & Scanners,” estimates that in 2010, the health care handheld device market will grow 7% from the previous year to $8.8 billion.

In 2009, patient-monitoring products accounted for 64 percent of the healthcare handheld market share totaling $5.3 billion.
PDAs, smart phones, tablet PCs and inventory/medication scanners — generated the other 36 percent equaling $3 billion.