HEALTHCARE IT NEWS’ annual NewsMakers reader survey category for Hot Technology for 2009 did not produce a clear winner.

What it did reveal is that readers believe there are a number of technologies and platforms that could grab the industry’s attention next year.

E-prescribing and computerized patient records – EHRs, EMRs and PHRs –were popular choices, with particular mention of Google and Microsoft for PHRs and Allscripts for EHRs.

“The market is ripe for rapid adoption,” one respondent noted of the potential for 2009 to be computerized records’ breakout year.

Still, with computerized record adoption comes privacy concerns. “Google and Microsoft will have issues with patient health records since the technology is wobbly for keeping individual health records safe,” wrote one respondent.

“The push for more EHR and all the privacy issues that surround that technology,” echoed another respondent.

One respondent ranked clinical data exchange after “increasing EMR adoption.”

Indeed, health information exchange was cited by numerous respondents in the context of various terms and initiatives – “Connecting the Community,” “Connect to Healthcare” and “Connect to Health Initiative.”

“Connecting acute care hospitals to physician offices so that we know more about a patient at the point of care,” one respondent said. “Can see their history and know what drugs they are on and what they are allergic to.”

Mobile applications on cell phones were cited by a number of respondents as a way to “enhance patient care and patient-MD communication,” as well as improve safety, outcomes and reduce costs.

Again, there were some concerns about mobile applications. “Mobile applications and Health 2.0, but I don’t believe that they are the solution to the problems of quality, safety and access simply that the industry is easily seduced by those apps that have the highest potential to make money,” said one respondent.

Medical home IT models, Microsoft and its .NET technology, Linux and open source garnered a smattering of votes.

With a nod to the influence of HIMSS, one respondent answered, “Not sure. I’m looking to the April 2009 HIMSS show to help me see that.”