Half of U.S. hospitals are at risk of failing to meet federal requirements for achieving meaningful use of electronic medical records and may incur penalties by 2015, estimated at $3 million to $4 million a year for a 500-bed hospital, according to a report by Accenture.
An Accenture survey of CIOs at health systems found that fewer than 1 percent of the systems achieved mature use of EMRs in 2009.
The survey also found that:
* An estimated 90 percent of hospitals will invest to install or upgrade EMRs in the next year.
* Most major health systems underestimate the time and cost of implementing advanced EMR functions.
* Hospitals experience an 80 percent increase in IT operating expenses while transitioning to EMRs.
Read the Accenture report on EMRs.
Read more coverage of meaningful use.
-Survey: 81% of Hospitals, 41% of Practices Will Apply for Meaningful Use Funds
-Hospital IT Officials Urge Simplification of Meaningful Use Requirements
-7 Ways Community and Rural Hospitals Can Achieve Meaningful Use
An Accenture survey of CIOs at health systems found that fewer than 1 percent of the systems achieved mature use of EMRs in 2009.
The survey also found that:
* An estimated 90 percent of hospitals will invest to install or upgrade EMRs in the next year.
* Most major health systems underestimate the time and cost of implementing advanced EMR functions.
* Hospitals experience an 80 percent increase in IT operating expenses while transitioning to EMRs.
Read the Accenture report on EMRs.
Read more coverage of meaningful use.
-Survey: 81% of Hospitals, 41% of Practices Will Apply for Meaningful Use Funds
-Hospital IT Officials Urge Simplification of Meaningful Use Requirements
-7 Ways Community and Rural Hospitals Can Achieve Meaningful Use