By Neil Versel

Hard to believe, but 52 percent of specialists and 50 percent of primary-care physicians claim to be using EMRs, up from 42 percent and 38 percent, respectively, two years earlier, a new survey indicates. The survey does not specify what EMR usage means.

“While use of this technology will soon be mandated, these ‘early adopter’ levels suggest a desire for digital convenience at a time when patient record keeping promises to become exponentially more complex,” reports New York-based survey firm Knowledge Networks. The company conducted the study of nearly 11,000 healthcare professionals through the Physicians Consulting Network, which maintains a research panel of physicians and other caregivers.

(We quibble with whether 50 percent is “early adopter” level–or even accurate–and that technology will “soon be mandated.” CMS will penalize those that haven’t gotten to “meaningful use” by 2015, but won’t exclude non-compliant providers. For that matter, participation in Medicare and Medicaid is voluntary.)

One possible explanation for the increased EMR use is the fact that physicians continue to be crunched for time, a situation that will only get worse as 32 million newly insured patients enter the healthcare system in coming years, thanks to the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. Supporting this theory is the finding in the survey that 14 percent of primary-care docs and 12 percent of specialists expect to spend less time with pharmaceutical sales representatives in the next six months. Those numbers compare with 9 percent (PCP) and 8 percent (specialists) in the 2008 survey.

Meanwhile, physicians seem to be embracing smartphones to improve their efficiency. The survey found that 62 percent of specialists and 55 percent of primary-care physicians have such devices, and that at least 17 percent of these smartphone owners are using their phones for e-detailing from pharma reps.

“Healthcare professionals are embracing new technologies that promise more control and convenience; we cannot help but see a connection between the use of smartphones for e-detailing and an anticipated drop in time spent with sales reps,” Knowledge Networks Senior VP Jim Vielee tells Healthcare IT News. “These trends seem destined to magnify as healthcare reform takes effect, creating dramatic upswings in doctors’ case loads.”

Source: http://www.fierceemr.com/story/knowledge-networks-says-half-docs-now-use-emrs/2010-07-15

Primary care physicians and specialist doctors are using electronic medical records more, and more than half have smartphones, according to a Knowledge Networks study.

By Nicole Lewis

A growing number of primary care physicians (PCPs) and specialist doctors are using electronic medical records and other technologies as they adopt health information technology to streamline their workflow processes, a new study shows.

The survey, conducted by Knowledge Networks in conjunction with the Physicians Consulting Network (PCN) and its panel of specialists and other health care professionals, shows that 52 percent of specialists and 50 percent of PCPs said they are already keeping their patient records in an electronic format — up 10 percentage points for specialists and 12 points for PCPs since 2008.

Published last week, the study of nearly 11,000 health care professionals also shows that more than half of PCPs and specialists already have smartphones, and that many are using them for email, shopping, e-detailing and to participate in surveys.

The report reveals that smartphones, such as iPhones and BlackBerries, are quickly becoming a way of life for medical professionals. Sixty two percent of specialists and 55 percent of PCPs report having one, and roughly 85 percent to 90 percent of those who have them are using them for Internet and for email.

Other findings were that 17 percent of PCPs and 18 percent of specialists who have smartphones are using them for e-detailing, which refers to the use of technology to bypass sales calls from pharmaceutical representative. Higher proportions — 29 percent of PCPs and 24 percent of specialists — use smartphones to participate in on-line surveys.

Executives at Knowledge Networks say the research reflects the way digital technology and other factors are transforming doctors’ attitudes and habits.

“Marketers must adjust to the needs of plugged-in, increasingly busy doctors in everything they do - from the platforms they use for messaging to the time they expect to have with prescribers,” Jim Vielee, senior vice president at Knowledge Networks, said in a statement. “Health care professionals are embracing new technologies that promise more control and convenience; we cannot help but see a connection between the use of smartphones for e-detailing and an anticipated drop in time spent with sales reps. These trends seem destined to magnify as health care reform takes effect, creating dramatic upswings in doctors’ case loads.”

Knowledge Networks is a company that works closely with clients to create, effective marketing, advertising, public policies, and social science research.

Source:http://www.informationweek.com/news/healthcare/EMR/showArticle.jhtml?articleID=225800003&cid=RSSfeed_IWK_News

By Neil Versel

The first anniversary of the enactment of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act–Irvine, Calif.-based research firm SK&A published a report saying that 36.1 percent of physician offices have some form of electronic medical record. That’s 3.2 percentage points greater than the 32.9 percent adoption rate reported in February 2009.

Those numbers may seem high, based on studies in esteemed academic publications such as the New England Journal of Medicine, but they are in line with the findings from recent Centers for Disease Control and Prevention report. It’s also worth noting that SK&A had a huge sample size of 180,000 physician offices in the U.S.

It’s no surprise that adoption rates seem to be related to number of physicians, number of exam rooms in the office and daily patient volume, with larger practices more likely to have EMRs. Practices owned by integrated health systems tend to have greater EMR usage as well, slightly above 50 percent. Given that primary care is increasingly burdened with high patient loads and starved for cash, general practice was near the bottom in terms of EMR adoption, SK&A reports. Dialysis, critical care and radiology reported the highest EMR usage rates.

Source:http://www.fierceemr.com/story/emr-use-inches-physician-offices/2010-02-18

By Neil Versel

The Adoption/Certification Workgroup of the federal Health IT Policy Committee wants to require hospitals and physicians to report “hazards and near-misses” as a result of software malfunctions, beginning in 2013. Reporting would become part of demonstrating “meaningful use” of EMRs and thus a condition for receiving Medicare and Medicaid bonus payments.

While some would like to see a database on EMR and data glitches up and running sooner than that, some patient-safety advocates believe 2013 is unrealistic. “I think it will take a while to do this right,” UCSF physician Dr. Robert M. Wachter tells the Huffington Post Investigative Fund. “The problem here is that there are potentially dangerous systems and we have no mechanism to figure out what they are or to force them to improve,” he adds.

The database could help pull together an uncoordinated group of existing public and private data repositories, such as the voluntary reporting system the FDA runs to track issues with devices it regulates. However, that system, like many others, has limited public access and redacts any fields that could identify the reporting organization.

The workgroup envisions a reporting system in which patients are encouraged to report errors and omissions in their own medical records and recommends that vendors include “feedback” buttons so they can report problems with a single click.

To learn more:
- see this Huffington Post Investigative Fund story
- check out this take from Federal Computer Week

Source: http://www.fierceemr.com/story/federal-panel-wants-national-reporting-emr-software-data-errors/2010-04-01

By Neil Versel

Plenty has been said about the potential for EMRs and telemedicine to improve the woeful state of care in America’s prisons, but juvenile detention facilities often get left out of the discussion.

On Tuesday, Los Angeles County supervisors approved $17 million in funding for an EMR system to manage the medical records of the more than 1,500 youngsters being held in county juvenile camps and halls. The EMR is intended to improve record keeping in the county’s Probation Department, which federal authorities have cited multiple times in recent years for keeping inadequate medical records on youths in custody.

The Los Angeles Times reports that the U.S. Department of Justice has said the poor record-keeping has resulted in “inconsistent or inappropriate treatment and medication.” Los Angeles County currently faces the threat of a civil-rights lawsuit that could strip county officials of some of their control over the Probation Department, the newspaper says.

Though juvenile detainees often get moved between facilities in Los Angeles County, paper records don’t always follow them. The EMR is intended to rectify that problem. The Probation Department’s CIO says the unspecified system should be in place in 15 to 18 months.

Source:http://www.fierceemr.com/story/l-county-approves-17m-emr-juvenile-detention-facilities/2010-06-03

Selecting electronic medical records software is notoriously difficult. The EMR market is flooded with several hundred vendors that cover the full spectrum of pricing and functionality, and clinics often have trouble cutting through the marketing noise.

Federal qualified health centers (FQHCs) are certainly not exempt from this predicament. They too will be required to use electronic medical records by 2015. Since most are using paper charts, the transition to electronic can be especially challenging for them.

When beginning the search for an EMR, we recommend that buyers assemble a list of their key requirements. Specialty-specific templates, lab integration, e-prescribing, and device integration are commonly required features. FQHCs, however, need to consider additional functionality due to their unique offering.

These requirements include:

• The ability to serve a wide range of specialties. Most FQHCs will need a system that supports a broad range of care – primary care, pediatrics, women’s health, behavioral health, physical therapy, dental, etc. While many vendors can address primary care and related specialties, very few can also address mental/behavioral health, therapy, and dental care in a single system.
• FQHC reports. As you know, FQHCs are required to track detailed patient information and provide Universal Services Data (USD) reports on patient demographics, statistics, and trends. Most software vendors on the market will have basic reports for patient demographics and sometimes PQRI, but most will not offer specific FQHC reports out of the box.
• Support for sliding fee scale adjustments. Systems built for FQHCs will allow administrators to apply discounts based on family size and income. Most vendors will not offer this functionality, requiring users to complete adjustments manually. This process can become very labor-intensive and increase the room for human error.
• Efficient workflows for high-volume centers. FQHCs are notoriously busy, with many providers seeing 30-40 patients per day. This large patient load will require a system that allows users to complete notes quickly, calculate charges efficiently, and generate claims automatically. Wasting time with redundant tasks can quickly lower an FQHC’s ability to support high patient volumes.

Although the EMR software market is large and complex, FQHCs can begin their EMR search processes effectively by focusing on software vendors that offer these four features. They will further benefit from the simple fact that fewer software vendors can serve their specialized needs. This smaller universe of potential vendors will help them quickly identify potential options and make the research process that much easier.

Source: http://www.softwareadvice.com/articles/medical/emr-selection-primer-four-essential-features-for-fqhcs-1061510/#ixzz0r6HUnpcG

By, Mike Miliard

NEW YORK – The worldwide market for hospital information systems is positioned for significant growth in the coming years, according to a new study from GlobalData.

The global market is forecast to exceed $18 billion by 2016, after growing at a compound annual rate of 13 percent from its $7.8 billion valuation in 2009.

That growth is primarily driven by hospitals that stand to receive government reimbursements as they try to improve care and increase workflow efficiency with information technology. Overall, the study shows, hospital officials strongly believe that adopting HIS will greatly increase efficiency and reduce medical errors, thus improving quality of care.

The electronic medical records segment is by far the largest segment in the HIS market – valued at $3.4 billion in 2009 and expected to increase at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 15.3 percent over the next seven years.

Practice management is the second largest segment, valued at $1.2 billion in 2009 and growing at a CAGR of 10.8 percent over the same period. Computerized physician order entry (CPOE), pharmacy information systems (PIS) and laboratory information systems (LIS) are projected to grow at a CAGR of 12.1 percent, 9.7 percent and 10.6 percent, respectively.

Current hospital systems are not delivering sufficiently safe, high-quality, efficient and cost-effective healthcare, according to the study, and computerization, with EMR at the center, is effectively the only way forward.

Physicians and healthcare organizations around the world looking to adopt more EMR technologies, and major companies in the market are vying for various collaborations to reach office-based physicians.

Governments in the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, France, Australia, New Zealand, Denmark and Finland are implementing plans to build integrated computer-based national healthcare infrastructures based around the deployment of interoperable EMR systems. Many of these countries aim to have EMR systems deployed for their populations within the next 10 years.

The HIS market in the United States was valued at $2.6 billion in 2009 and is expected to grow at a CAGR of 19.3 percent over the next seven years. Economic stimulus provided by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act is expected to increase the adoption rates to 90 percent for physicians and 70 percent for hospitals in the United States.

Source: http://www.healthcarefinancenews.com/news/global-his-market-grow-18b-2016

By Marianne Kolbasuk McGee

CIOs rank electronic medical records projects higher than IT managers and directors, who are focused on PC refreshes.

With $20 billion-plus worth of meaningful use bonuses from the government at stake for their organizations, E-medical records and electronic ordering systems are the top IT priorities for hospital CIOs over the next two years, according to a survey.

However, among hospital IT managers and directors, EMR projects ranked further down on the IT priority list, with only 25% naming those initiatives as “most important” for their organization over the next two years.

The survey of 178 respondents, including 36 CIOs and 142 IT directors and managers at hospitals with 200 or more beds, was commissioned by HP and conducted earlier this year by research firm NewGrowth Consulting.

The survey was designed to ask about hospital IT leaders’ IT priorities and plans, especially those initiatives involving PCs.

Among CIOs surveyed, 58% named EMR systems as their most important IT project over the next 24 months, while computerized physician order entry came in at a close second, named by 56%.

Respondents could choose more than one answer.

The CIO results are in synch with the biggest theme in healthcare IT today — the federal government’s push for hospitals and doctor practices to implement EMR, CPOE, and other e-health systems over the next several years.

Under the HITECH portion of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act signed into law in February 2009, the federal government plans to begin in 2011 rewarding healthcare providers with more than $20 billion over the next several years for their meaningful use of health IT systems such as EMR and CPOE.

Coming in third among top IT priorities of hospital CIOs was security initiatives, named by 47% of respondents, followed by database initiatives, with 42%. Other IT projects on the CIO priority list include bar-coded medication administration (36%); hospital expansion (33%); PC refresh (31%); and thin client/PC virtualization (31%).

However, further down the hospital IT leadership totem pole, IT management priorities — where PCs were involved — differed somewhat from those of CIOs.

Hospital IT managers and directors named PC refresh (51%); security initiatives (42%); and CPOE (37%) as their top IT projects for the next 24 months. That was followed by hospital expansion (34%); BCMA (33%); and database initiatives (30%).

Among hospital IT managers and directors surveyed, EMR ranked 7th, being named by 25% of the respondents. The survey also found that nearly two-thirds of hospital CIOs planned PC virtualization for some of their client hardware.

Also, nearly six in 10 hospital CIOs said their organizations did not have a telemedicine program, while 41% said their hospitals did have such initiatives underway. Most CIOs with telemedicine programs plan to expand those efforts in the next 24 months.

Above article publish on http://www.informationweek.com/news/healthcare/EMR/showArticle.jhtml?articleID=224700871

I always love to hear clinics talk about the challenges they face in implementing an EMR. For the most part, they are completely predictable. Especially when it comes to the small versus large clinic challenges.

For example, small clinics will complain that they don’t have the resources that large clinics have to implement an EMR. Large clinics will complain that they have too much bureaucracy, red tape and stakeholders that they have to get on board an EMR implementation. They wish they were like smaller clinics who could quickly make decisions and had a much more focused need.

Of course, the reality is that both of these point of views are accurate. It’s not news that small clinics can make decisions easier and that larger clinics have more resources at their disposal. Certainly a generalization, but the reason it’s a generalization is because it’s generally true.

Since both small clinics and large clinics both face major challenges of resources and red tape respectively, then how does any clinic get over them and implement an EMR? Let’s be honest, it’s really more a matter of the priority EMR is given than anything else. So far many doctors offices haven’t decided to make their EMR implementation a priority. Once a clinic makes EMR a priority, it’s really quite amazing to see what happens.

The good news is that for many clinics, the EMR stimulus money has changed this fact and bumped EMR adoption up on their priority list. Plus, in the 4+ years I’ve been writing about EMR software, EMR software has come a really long way. Sure, they still have a ways to go, but the EMR software of today is much improved and can provide some real value to a clinic if implemented correctly.

It’s time to address the excuses for why you can’t do an EMR and start focusing on the benefits you can receive from an EMR. Notice I didn’t say “ignore” or “hide” the excuses. We need to address the excuses people are giving and see what benefits you might be missing because you’re not using an EMR. I know very very few people who use an EMR and would ever want to go back to paper. There’s a reason for this.

Above article publish on

http://www.healthrotate.com/emr-implementation-in-small-and-large-clinics/

Between 75-85 percent of physicians with EHRs are already using functions that meet some of the proposed criteria for demonstrating meaningful use, according to analysis from Seth O. Hogan, survey director, and Stephanie M. Kissam, health services research associate, at RTI International in Chicago.

The authors of the survey, published in the April edition of Health Affairs, said their analysis contributes new information about the rates at which primary care physicians, medical specialists and surgical specialists who had a basic EHR system used specific functions before the passage of the stimulus law, compared to the level of expected meaningful use of EHRs set forth in the proposed federal regulations.

“Among physicians who had key functions available to them, 75-85 percent reported using functions in the patient record category. These functions included organizing patient information such as sex and date of birth, lists of medications taken by the patient, problem lists or the current diagnoses of patients and clinical notes,” wrote the authors.

A stratified random sample of 5,000 U.S. office-based physicians was drawn from the American Medical Association’s Physicians Masterfile where, after 516 were determined as ineligible, 2,758 of the 4,484 eligible physicians completed the surveys during a data collection period from August 2007 to February 2008, yielding a 62 percent response rate.

The authors sorted completed interviews by whether physicians reported having a basic EHR system, meaning that it offers practitioners, at minimum, the following functions: the ability to record patient demographics, including name, address and sex, inclusion of patient problem lists, clinical notes, patient medication lists, and orders for prescriptions and electronic viewing of laboratory and imaging results. “Applying these criteria resulted in a sample of 485 physicians eligible for analysis,” the authors noted.

Fewer than one in five physicians reported having at least a basic EHR system, the survey found. Of those who did, primary care physicians were the most likely to report having a basic EHR system (19.4 percent). Medical specialists were the next group most likely to have a basic EHR system (17.1 percent) followed by surgeons (16.7 percent). “Availability of additional EHR functions, beyond those defined in a basic system, varied across all physician groups,” the authors wrote.

The use of these basic functions did not differ significantly by broad medical specialty yet the authors reported these data to provide baselines for tracking changes by specialty groups over time.

According to the survey, 79 percent of 306 responding physicians whose EHR systems had warnings for drug-to-drug interactions used this function. For information exchange functions, the authors also reported on the use of sending prescriptions electronically (79 percent of 265 respondents whose records had this function) and submitting laboratory orders electronically (used by 64 percent of 256 respondents whose records had this function).

“Public health reporting functions were less commonly used among the small number of physicians who had those functions available to them,” the authors wrote. In addition, only 27.6 percent of the 128 responding physicians said they could provide at least 10 percent of unique patients with timely electronic access to their health information, the authors found.

“To qualify for new federal funds intended to promote the widespread adoption and use of EHRs, U.S. physician practices must meet the government’s meaningful use benchmarks,” concluded the authors. “Tracking the use of EHRs across different types of providers will be a critical component in evaluating how their use affects healthcare costs, quality and safety and overall population health measures.”

Above article publish on http://www.healthimaging.com/index.php?option=com_articles&view=article&id=21577:healthaffairs-about-80-of-emr-users-meet-some-meaningful-use-criteria