About 75% of physicians who used electronic health records in 2011 reported clinical benefits to EHR adoption, according to a new study published in the journal Health Services Research, Healthcare IT News reports.
Study Details and Findings
The study analyzed responses about EHR experiences from 3,180 doctors to the Physician Workflow Survey.
The report found that a majority of respondents said they “were alerted to a potential medication error or critical lab value” while using EHRs, according to Jennifer King, chief of research and evaluation at the Office of the National Coordinator for Health IT and lead author of the study.
In addition, the report found that nearly 33% of physicians said EHRs helped them to identify lab tests and more directly communicate with patients, King said.
Reaction
In a release, Mickey McGlynn — chair of the Electronic Health Record Association and senior director of strategy and operations for Siemens Healthcare — said, “The study reinforces our view that meaningful use of EHR technologies can deliver clinical benefits and improve outcomes.”
She added that the study’s findings could show practices that are reluctant to adopt EHR technology that the benefits of EHR adoption take time.
McGlynn said, “EHR adoption is a journey not a destination. All stakeholders must collaborate to ensure that requirements to achieve both benefits and incentives are practical and do not add unnecessary burdens” to providers (Monegain, Healthcare IT News, 1/3). Source
