Toward understanding EHR use in small physician practices.
This article presents insights into the use of electronic health records (EHRs) by small physician practices participating in a CMS pay-for-performance demonstration. Site visits to four States reveal slow movement toward improved EHR use. Factors facilitating use of EHRs include customization of EHR products and being owned by a larger organization. Factors limiting use of EHRs include system limitations, cost, and lack of strong incentives to improve. Practices in one State were moving more vigorously toward improved EHR use than those in the other States. Many practices also increased use of medical assistants after implementing EHRs.
Felt-Lisk
Suzanne
S
Mathematica Policy Research, Washington, DC 20024, USA. sfelt-lisk@mathematica-mpr.com
Johnson
Lorraine
L
Fleming
Christopher
C
Shapiro
Rachel
R
Natzke
Brenda
B
D057171:American Recovery and Reinvestment Act; D014487:Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, U.S.; D004059:Diffusion of Innovation; D016347:Medical Records Systems, Computerized / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011216:Practice Management, Medical; D011785:Quality Assurance, Health Care; D012052:Reimbursement, Incentive; D014481:United States