A new study, published in the March issue of Health Affairs, found that the average physician will lose $43,743 over five years after adopting electronic health record systems.
Researchers used survey data from 49 community practices in a large EHR pilot in Massachusetts.
According to the study, only 27 percent of practices would achieve a positive return on investment in five years. An additional 14 percent would be in the black assuming they received the $44,000 federal meaningful use incentive. The biggest difference in which practices received positive returns versus negative ones resulted from whether they used EHRs to increase revenue by seeing more patients or through improved billing.
Researchers also concluded that adoption of EHRs can have a positive impact on practices, but current initiatives tend to favor larger practices.
Study: EHR Adoption by Family Physicians has Doubled Since 2005
72% of Physicians Use Electronic Health Records in Offices
Researchers used survey data from 49 community practices in a large EHR pilot in Massachusetts.
According to the study, only 27 percent of practices would achieve a positive return on investment in five years. An additional 14 percent would be in the black assuming they received the $44,000 federal meaningful use incentive. The biggest difference in which practices received positive returns versus negative ones resulted from whether they used EHRs to increase revenue by seeing more patients or through improved billing.
Researchers also concluded that adoption of EHRs can have a positive impact on practices, but current initiatives tend to favor larger practices.
More Articles on EHR Adoption:
Rhode Island Regional Extension Center to Help Specialists in EHR Adoption, Meaningful UseStudy: EHR Adoption by Family Physicians has Doubled Since 2005
72% of Physicians Use Electronic Health Records in Offices