Implementation of electronic health records in a five-physician practice may cost up to $162,000 in addition to more than $85,000 in maintenance spending for the first year, according to research findings published in Health Affairs.
Researchers studied the cost of EHR implementation in 26 primary care practices in a physician network. They measured costs as well as account hardware/software costs, time and effort invested in implementation.
Results demonstrated the average implementation cost was an estimated $162,000. The primary care practices also averaged $85,500 in maintenance expenses for the first year after implementation. Time spent on planning and implementation averaged 611 hours, and "end users," including physicians, clinical staff and nonclinical staff, spent an average 134 hours to prepare for use of EHRs in a clinical setting.
Read the Health Affairs abstract about implementation and maintenance costs of EHRs.
Read other coverage about EHRs:
- Federal Meaningful Use Workgroup Goes to Work on Stage 2 Deadlines and Requirements
- GAO to CMS: E-prescribing and EHR Programs Need Better Alignment
- CDC To Survey Physicians' Opinions of EHRs, Impact on Healthcare
Researchers studied the cost of EHR implementation in 26 primary care practices in a physician network. They measured costs as well as account hardware/software costs, time and effort invested in implementation.
Results demonstrated the average implementation cost was an estimated $162,000. The primary care practices also averaged $85,500 in maintenance expenses for the first year after implementation. Time spent on planning and implementation averaged 611 hours, and "end users," including physicians, clinical staff and nonclinical staff, spent an average 134 hours to prepare for use of EHRs in a clinical setting.
Read the Health Affairs abstract about implementation and maintenance costs of EHRs.
Read other coverage about EHRs:
- Federal Meaningful Use Workgroup Goes to Work on Stage 2 Deadlines and Requirements
- GAO to CMS: E-prescribing and EHR Programs Need Better Alignment
- CDC To Survey Physicians' Opinions of EHRs, Impact on Healthcare