Some Boston-area physicians are not buying into the notion that the benefits of electronic health records may outweigh costs, even though the government is offering incentive payments to healthcare providers for EHR adoption, according to a Boston Herald news report.
James Kenealy, MD, an ear, nose and throat physician from Framingham, Mass., said his practice will have to spend nearly $90,000 for software alone. The new meaningful use requirements will also force Dr. Kenealy to hire two more employees to perform EHR functions that his specialty practice doesn't normally perform.
One survey conducted by Athenahealth and Sermo echoed Dr. Kenealy's skepticism about EHRs. The survey results showed fewer physicians believe the financial benefits outweigh costs and more physicians believe EHRs impede timely patient care. Several published surveys also suggest physician practices lag behind their hospital counterparts in adopting EHRs. Data from the Office of the National Coordinator for Health IT showed only 41 percent of physician offices expect to be compliant with meaningful use by 2014, compared to 80 percent of eligible hospitals, according to the news report.
Read the news report about physician skepticism about EHRs.
Read other coverage about EHRs:
- Dr. Blumenthal Suggests Data Portability for Rural Providers Shopping for EHRs
- UCSF Medical Center Goes Live With $160M EHR System
- Health IT Panel Considers Delaying New EHR Requirements for One Year
James Kenealy, MD, an ear, nose and throat physician from Framingham, Mass., said his practice will have to spend nearly $90,000 for software alone. The new meaningful use requirements will also force Dr. Kenealy to hire two more employees to perform EHR functions that his specialty practice doesn't normally perform.
One survey conducted by Athenahealth and Sermo echoed Dr. Kenealy's skepticism about EHRs. The survey results showed fewer physicians believe the financial benefits outweigh costs and more physicians believe EHRs impede timely patient care. Several published surveys also suggest physician practices lag behind their hospital counterparts in adopting EHRs. Data from the Office of the National Coordinator for Health IT showed only 41 percent of physician offices expect to be compliant with meaningful use by 2014, compared to 80 percent of eligible hospitals, according to the news report.
Read the news report about physician skepticism about EHRs.
Read other coverage about EHRs:
- Dr. Blumenthal Suggests Data Portability for Rural Providers Shopping for EHRs
- UCSF Medical Center Goes Live With $160M EHR System
- Health IT Panel Considers Delaying New EHR Requirements for One Year