title: Electronic Health Record Use a Bitter Pill for Many Physicians.
abstract: Electronic health record (EHR) adoption among office-based physician practices in the United States has increased significantly in the past decade. However, the challenges of using EHRs have resulted in growing dissatisfaction with the systems among many of these physicians. The purpose of this qualitative multiple-case study was to increase understanding of physician perceptions regarding the value of using EHR technology. Important findings included the belief among physicians that EHR systems need to be more user-friendly and adaptable to individual clinic workflow preferences, physician beliefs that lack of interoperability among EHRs is a major barrier to meaningful use of the systems, and physician beliefs that EHR use does not improve the quality of care provided to patients. These findings suggest that although government initiatives to encourage EHR adoption among office-based physician practices have produced positive results, additional support may be required in the future to maintain this momentum.
authors.affiliation: Healthcare Management at Brown Mackie College in San Antonio, TX.
authors.forename: Stephen L
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Meigs
authors.affiliation: College of Health Professions, School of Health Services Administration at the University of Phoenix in Phoenix, AZ.
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Solomon
mesh_terms: D057171:American Recovery and Reinvestment Act; D001292:Attitude to Computers; D004059:Diffusion of Innovation; D057286:Electronic Health Records / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D062527:Meaningful Use; D010820:Physicians / Q000523:psychology*; D010824:Physicians' Offices; D013781:Texas; D014481:United States
keywords: electronic health record (EHR); health information technology; interoperability; meaningful use; office-based physician practice; physician perception; technology adoption