Electronic health record implementation alone is not enough to improve patient care in small physician practices, but when combined with prolonged physician exposure to EHRs and technical assistance, improvement in key quality measures is possible, according to a study published in Health Affairs.
The study was conducted by Weill Cornell Medical College in New York City and the Primary Care Information Project of the New York City Health Department. The research team used an independent data source using multi-payor medical claims in New York state. The state health department provided EHR software with clinical decision support and onsite technical assistance to 3,300 physicians at 600 primary care practices serving disadvantaged populations.
According to the study results, EHR implementation alone is not adequate in improving patient care overall or known quality improvement measures, such as cancer screenings and diabetes care. Nine months of EHR exposure had to pass, combined with eight or more technical assistance visits, before the physician practices demonstrated significant statistical improvements in patient care. Physician offices with minimal or no technical support did not show any significant improvements, even when these practices had been using EHRs for up to two years.
"EHRs hold a lot of hope and promise and the technology is taking healthcare a step in the right direction. Our study supports proof of concept that EHRs can improve outcomes, but widespread implementation of the technology and strong technical assistance is needed," says Andrew Ryan, MD, assistant professor of public health at Weill Cornell Medical College and one of the study authors.
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The study was conducted by Weill Cornell Medical College in New York City and the Primary Care Information Project of the New York City Health Department. The research team used an independent data source using multi-payor medical claims in New York state. The state health department provided EHR software with clinical decision support and onsite technical assistance to 3,300 physicians at 600 primary care practices serving disadvantaged populations.
According to the study results, EHR implementation alone is not adequate in improving patient care overall or known quality improvement measures, such as cancer screenings and diabetes care. Nine months of EHR exposure had to pass, combined with eight or more technical assistance visits, before the physician practices demonstrated significant statistical improvements in patient care. Physician offices with minimal or no technical support did not show any significant improvements, even when these practices had been using EHRs for up to two years.
"EHRs hold a lot of hope and promise and the technology is taking healthcare a step in the right direction. Our study supports proof of concept that EHRs can improve outcomes, but widespread implementation of the technology and strong technical assistance is needed," says Andrew Ryan, MD, assistant professor of public health at Weill Cornell Medical College and one of the study authors.
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