Health Care Providers Question Whether EHRs Will Deliver on Promises

Although federal officials are touting the benefits of electronic health records, many health care providers and experts are worried that EHRs will not deliver on their promise, the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports.

In 2009, federal lawmakers passed the HITECH Act as part of the federal economic stimulus package. The act allows health care providers who demonstrate meaningful use of certified EHRs to qualify for incentive payments through Medicare and Medicaid.

Concerns About EHR Implementation

However, many physicians, particularly those in small practices, are expressing concern about the cost and time involved with implementing EHR systems.

Jaan Sidorov, a health care consultant, said, “The thing about these systems is that it doesn’t really look like they’re getting any cheaper. And the upgrades and the upkeep represent a very significant cost, especially in outpatient clinics.”

Some experts also have expressed concern that there have been few rigorous studies to prove that EHRs reduce health care costs or improve patient outcomes. A Public Library of Science study by doctors in the United Kingdom noted that “there is a large gap between the postulated and empirically demonstrated benefits of e-health technologies (and) their cost-effectiveness has yet to be demonstrated, despite being frequently promoted by policymakers and ‘techno-enthusiasts.'”

Ken Adler, medical director of IT at Arizona Community Physicians, said, “There is no really good data that shows that [EHRs] reduce hospitalizations. The nation is investing a huge amount of money on a hope and prayer” (Toland, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, 8/7).

Source: iHealthBeat