EHR Systems
According to a recent study in the New England Journal of Medicine, Hospitals across the U.S. have several common barriers to adopting EHR systems, as well as some key facilitators that could help boost adoption rates.
The study based its information from approximately 3,000 hospitals, only 1.5% of nonfederal U.S. Hospitals use a comprehensive electronic health record system and only 8% use a basic EHR in at least one unit. This includes physician or nurse notes. The low levels of EHR adoption rates in hospitals are significantly low. Policymakers will have to face substantial obstacles when achieving health care performance goals that depend on implementing health information technology.
Apparently, there are many hospitals that have some piece of the EHR systems, but very little have all the pieces together that works as a comprehensive system. The main reason why hospitals are holding back from obtaining a comprehensive EHR system is the cost factor. However, physician resistance is another significant reason why hospitals are holding back. Many physicians dislike the thought of paperless records.
Although some are dismal about the idea of an EHR system, others are latching on to the idea rather quickly, including the government. The federal government could encourage the development of a software program that will support health information technology. Specifically speaking, the software for communications and computation that extends over the domains of clinic care, public health and research.
The recently endorsed stimulus package could hurry the adoption of health IT
Information obtained from amednew.com http://www.ama-assn.org/amednews/2009/04/06/gvsc0406.htm
