Many Physicians Say EHRs Improve Patient Care

NCHS survey sheds more positive light on electronic health records

As EHR adoption has increased throughout the country, user satisfaction has grown as well. According to a new survey, most physicians using an electronic health record system believe that it contributes to improved patient care. Even better, most of these physicians reported that if they had to do it all again, they would still purchase their current EHR.

The report validates what the Office of the National Coordinator for Health IT (ONC) has been saying about EHRs, and “it also invalidates some of the anecdotes one may have heard,” such as the oft-repeated horror stories about a practice that spends thousands of dollars on a new EMR system only to replace it with a more usable one a few years later. The National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS) survey discussed here is not the first to conclude that EHRs deliver on the promises of improved workflow efficiency and patient health.

Over half of office-based physicians are using an EHR, and even one- to two-provider practices are finding ways to switch from the familiar paper system to the more practical digital system. Eligible providers (EPs) can qualify for up to $44,000 in stimulus money if they can prove they have meaningfully used a certified EHR, and 62 regional extension centers (RECs) have been set up around the country to help practices switch to an electronic medical records system and qualify for meaningful use. As of this month, over 145,000 physicians have signed up with an REC, and over $5 billion has been paid out through the EHR incentive programs.

For more on the NCHS survey, see American Medical News.

About ChartLogic, Inc.

Electronic health records . . . better patient care since 1994. ChartLogic has helped thousands of practices make the transition from paper to digital medical offices. Guaranteed to meet meaningful use requirements, ChartLogic offers two comprehensive electronic health record suites that include electronic medical records, superior medical billing software, document management, and interactive patient education. ChartLogic helps physicians provide better patient care through better technology. For further information, visit www.chartlogic.com.