Most Physicians Aren’t Using Electronic Medical Records
MedHeadlines, June 22, 2008
While we’ve historically blogged about medical facilities turning to electronic medical records, this article suggests that there are a number of doctors who still have not embraced electronic records. According to survey results published in The New England Journal of Medicine, only one in five U.S. doctors use electronic health records. According to the article, the most common reason for avoiding the change is its price tag.
“The initial cost of upgrading office personal computers, buying new software and obtaining technical support to make the shift is $15,000 to $20,000 per doctor,” says the publication.
While it’s an expensive transition, those who have done it have been satisfied with the benefits. According to the article, electronic medical records increase efficiently, thus improving the quality of patient care. Although this research suggests that electronic medical records are slow to catch on, we’re hopeful that they’ll become a common amenity in medical offices in the future.
