title: The meaningful use of electronic health records and health care quality.
abstract: The federal government is investing approximately $30 billion in incentives for adoption and meaningful use (MU) of electronic health records (EHRs). Whether achieving MU improves quality of care is unclear. The researchers conducted a longitudinal study of 514 primary care physicians in New York State from 2010 to 2011. Quality of care provided by those who achieved stage 1 MU was compared with the quality provided by those who used EHRs but did not achieve stage 1 MU. Generalized estimating equations were used to determine whether receipt of MU incentives was independently associated with performance on 9 MU quality measures. In 2011, 44% of physicians achieved MU and 56% did not. No difference in quality was found between those who achieved stage 1 MU and those who were using EHRs but had not achieved MU. Longer follow-up is needed to observe the full effects of this multistage national policy.
authors.affiliation: Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, NY Health Information Technology Evaluation Collaborative, New York, NY lmk2003@med.cornell.edu.
authors.forename: Lisa M
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Kern
authors.affiliation: Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, NY Health Information Technology Evaluation Collaborative, New York, NY.
authors.forename: Alison
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Edwards
authors.affiliation: Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, NY Health Information Technology Evaluation Collaborative, New York, NY New York-Presbyterian Hospital, New York, NY.
authors.forename: Rainu
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Kaushal
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D057286:Electronic Health Records / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D062527:Meaningful Use / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008875:Middle Aged; D009518:New York; D058007:Physicians, Primary Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011787:Quality of Health Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*
keywords: ambulatory care; electronic health records; quality of care