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“EHR…If They Are so Good, Why Doesn’t Every Doctor Have One?”
by Paul McLeod, M.D., MED3OOO Chief Medical Executive
My medical group installed and implemented our first EHR in the early 1990s. It was clearly a “first generation” system that was little more than a fancy word processor. Today’s EHRs are very robust - recording patient encounters, managing orders, supporting clinical decisions, and even facilitating disease management. Much of the early skepticism and controversy surrounding EHRs is now gone. In fact, there is general acknowledgement of the value of EHRs to the practice of medicine. Despite this, most physicians still do not have one. WHY? An interesting survey of 2758 U.S. physicians in the June 16, 2008 New England Journal of Medicine can shed some light on this question. Only a minority (17%) of doctors have even a basic EHR system. Those who do, tend to be younger, specialize in primary care, or belong to a large group. Those with an EHR tend to be very satisfied with it and believe that electronic systems improve the quality of care manifestly through better clinical decision making, improved communications, timely access to medical records, and reduced medication errors.
Even more interesting are the reasons being offered by the physicians who have not yet installed EHRs:
- The #1 reason cited was concern about capital costs (66%), with 50% also concerned about getting a return on their investment in EHR. Much of this concern can be addressed by selecting an EHR that is available through an ASP (application services provider) model, making up front capital costs minimal.
- Fully 44% were concerned that their system would become obsolete. In this case, physicians should look for EHR companies with longevity and commitment to providing and maintaining industry-standard systems. In an ASP model, all of the upgrades are taken care of as a part of the monthly fee.
- Another major concern included the ability of the practice to select, contract, install, and implement an EHR (39%) and loss of productivity during transition (41%). This is a significant barrier that stresses the importance of selecting a system known for its ease of installation and use. Some companies understand the importance of this and have developed very intuitive systems that physicians and their staff can learn quickly.
- The other big issue, cited by 54% of respondents, was not finding a system that met the needs of the practice. Indeed, there are major differences between single-site and multi-site practices as well as single-specialty and multi-specialty practices. Some EHRs don’t accommodate urologists as well as they do pediatricians. Finding a system that fits your practice profile is important.
MED3OOO understands the barriers to EHR selection and implementation. We deploy a variety of robust systems that represent the “best of breed” among EHRs. We have systems available in ASP or on-site server configurations. Most importantly, we have the expertise to create a system that meets the unique needs of your practice and the implementation team to make your transition go smoothly.
For more information on our EHR offerings, contact our Marketing Department today at Marketing@MED3000.com or 1-888-811-2411
The Clinical Advisory is a clinical publication from MED3OOO dedicated to informing physicians and clinical staff about tools and information to improve the quality of patient care.
Corporate Headquarters: MED3OOO, Inc., 680 Andersen Drive, Foster Plaza 10, Pittsburgh PA 15220. For more information on our clinical initiatives visit www.MED3000.com or contact Geoff Coleman at Geoff_Coleman@MED3000.com or 1-888-811-2411.
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A Prescription for Growth
Nearly one fourth of the world’s leading pharmaceutical companies are considering new ways to bolster their growth, that extend beyond traditional physician detailing and the more recent “direct to consumer” advertising. Both drug and device makers are changing their focus toward educating consumers about health outcomes according to a survey of executives from 30 of the largest drug companies, conducted by the German consultant firm, Roland Berger. “They are shifting…from selling pills to selling health outcomes,” said Stephen Danner, healthcare partner at Roland Berger.
Mr. Danner emphasizes a shift by pharmaceutical companies into development of diagnostic devices and vaccines, but also initiatives to raise patients’ long-term use of medicines as prescribed, to link payment for medical services to performance, and to offer broader “wellness” health-promotion programs.
These fresh strategies are also an attempt to meet the intensifying industry concerns about patent expiry, pressure on pricing and reimbursement, R&D productivity challenges, and launching new drugs.
Fresenius Medical Care, a dialysis and drug development company, has ventured into hospital care. Pfizer has created a "health solutions" division that will collaborate with health systems for preventive care. Other companies have long emphasized diagnostics to identify groups of patients who will benefit from treatments. Preventive care will not only put less burden on health services, but will mean people are healthier, and have a chance for a better quality of life.
In-PharmaTechnologist.com
In-PharmaTechnologist.com is a daily online news service available as a free-access website and provides daily and weekly newsletters to subscribers.
Deloitte.com
Pharmaceutical Manufacturers Seek Revenue Growth in Emerging Markets
Key findings from the “Innovation in emerging markets, 2007 Annual Study
Patient Recall
Using the M3/IQ™ technology and our M3/Connect technology, we can work with you to identify those patients in your practice who should be recalled for needed services. If you would like to discuss either these reports or an automated patient recall process using M3/Connect technology, please contact Geoff Coleman at Geoff_Coleman@MED3000.com.
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