In recent years there has been a strong push throughout the healthcare industry for doctors to convert to EMR. 2006 has been a record year for EMR adoption thanks to new product innovations, new government initiatives encouraging EMR, economic pressures, improved patient awareness, and an improved attitude towards EMR among physicians. Here are some of the many reasons why providers are moving to EMR:
New EMR Product Innovations
1) Mobile computing through wireless
2) Affordable high-speed internet
3) Cheaper high-speed imaging devices
4) Cheaper technology/storage costs
5) New internet based solutions
Government
1) New Medicare/Medicaid EDI Filing
2) HIPAA Regulations
3) New Industry Standards ie. XML, HL7, Medcin, SNOMED, PACS, Surescripts
Economic Pressures
1) Lower reimbursement from payers
2) Higher administrative costs as a result of higher complexity in insurance and billing
3) Higher malpractice costs
4) Higher labor costs for reporting
5) New push for pay-for-performance plans by payers
Patient Awareness
In a study by Accenture done in March of 2006 in which 519 consumers were polled, results showed that nine out of ten patients believe Electronic Medical Records can improve medical care and reduce the number of hospital errors. Additionally more than half said they’d be willing to pay extra if their records were kept in an electronic format2. Patients have become more educated through the news and internet about how healthcare providers make clinical decisions and the risks associated with drug prescribing. The government has stated on many occasions that by doctors moving to Electronic Medical Records this will help reduce medical errors. With EMR becoming more popular in the recent years patients are seeing some of their providers using EMR and the others not. Patients will likely question the care provided by offices that don’t use EMR. Whether this has a significant effect on an office’s patient retention is difficult to say but it is certainly something that needs to be considered.
NEXT: Financial Benefits of Electronic Medical Records
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