KLAS, a research firm, has published a report that assesses the true cost of electronic medical record systems — including unanticipated costs — after 146 healthcare organizations bought the systems, according to a Healthcare IT News report.
The study, called Acute Care EMR, Getting Your Money's Worth: The Overall Experience, looks beyond the quoted price of an EMR and closely analyzes the real cost of adopting of these systems, according to the report. The study examined various details such as how well the EMR vendor kept promises, whether healthcare organizations fell within budget and any unanticipated costs that occurred.
Another measure in the study looked at the overall cost and resulting experience healthcare providers had after implementing EMRs. Less expensive EMRs may sacrifice depth of computerized physician order entries, so more meaningful adoptions may require more investment, Kent Gale, author of the report and KLAS founder, said in the report. CPOE adoption also usually requires additional costs related to staffing, vendors and consultants.
Epic received the highest ratings for its money's worth, contracting and costs. There were no common trends among hospital organizations or EMR providers.
Read the Healthcare IT News report about the KLAS study.
Read other coverage on healthcare information technology:
- Guidance on Better Merging Physician Work Flow With EMRs: Q&A With Phyllis Teater, CIO of Ohio State University Medical Center
- Only 2% of Hospitals Can Meet New Federal EMR Standards
- VA Medical Center and Indiana Health Information Exchange Partner on Electronic Health Data Exchange Pilot
The study, called Acute Care EMR, Getting Your Money's Worth: The Overall Experience, looks beyond the quoted price of an EMR and closely analyzes the real cost of adopting of these systems, according to the report. The study examined various details such as how well the EMR vendor kept promises, whether healthcare organizations fell within budget and any unanticipated costs that occurred.
Another measure in the study looked at the overall cost and resulting experience healthcare providers had after implementing EMRs. Less expensive EMRs may sacrifice depth of computerized physician order entries, so more meaningful adoptions may require more investment, Kent Gale, author of the report and KLAS founder, said in the report. CPOE adoption also usually requires additional costs related to staffing, vendors and consultants.
Epic received the highest ratings for its money's worth, contracting and costs. There were no common trends among hospital organizations or EMR providers.
Read the Healthcare IT News report about the KLAS study.
Read other coverage on healthcare information technology:
- Guidance on Better Merging Physician Work Flow With EMRs: Q&A With Phyllis Teater, CIO of Ohio State University Medical Center
- Only 2% of Hospitals Can Meet New Federal EMR Standards
- VA Medical Center and Indiana Health Information Exchange Partner on Electronic Health Data Exchange Pilot