Under the 2009 federal economic stimulus package, health care providers who demonstrate meaningful use of EHRs will qualify for Medicaid and Medicare incentive payments.

Report Findings

For the report, KLAS researchers interviewed 118 health care providers (Monegain, Healthcare IT News, 5/18). They found that integrated delivery networks had the highest need for external expertise, with 90% reporting plans to collaborate with consulting firms (Guerra, InformationWeek, 5/20).

Trend Toward Specific Tasks

Researchers noted that many health care providers already have achieved some level of health IT adoption and now are seeking to hire smaller groups to complete specific tasks.

Mike Smith — report author and KLAS general manager of financial and services research — said many health care organizations hire consultants to help bolster physician adoption of clinical information systems (InformationWeek, 5/20).

Above article publish on http://www.ihealthbeat.org/articles/2010/5/21/report-tracks-demand-for-consultants-to-help-with-health-it-adoption.aspx

The authors surveyed 29 initiatives that help smaller medical practices adopt and use EHR technology, including some regional extension centers. They obtained information from program leaders, Web sites, and published reports.

Key Findings

• Current programs providing health IT assistance form one-on-one relationships with practice clinicians and staff to overcome implementation barriers—such as lack of technical expertise, isolation, and practice disruption—and to increase odds of successful practice transformation.
• Practice consultants need direct experience with small practices, the technical expertise to manage relationships with vendors, knowledge of software implementation, and know-how around work-flow change and quality improvement methods. Program leaders warned of a shortage of such individuals and remain concerned about finding sufficient qualified staff.
• A significant barrier to successful implementation and use of health IT is underestimating the effort and upheaval that accompany implementation.
• Most assistance programs can provide only limited help with selecting software and hardware, yet this is a critical decision for practices.
• Practice redesign and quality improvement methods are integral to using health IT to its full capabilities. Program leaders stressed addressing practice redesign prior to, or simultaneously with, health IT implementation.

Above article publish on http://blog.harmonyhit.com/2010/04/13/a-new-study-easing-the-adoption-and-use-of-electronic-health-records-in-small-practices/

The market research firm conducted the survey of 300 health care providers and 200 health care IT firms in September 2009.

According to the survey, 83% of health care providers with electronic health records said saving time and improving efficiency were factors in deciding to invest in health IT. Meanwhile, 82% of survey respondents with EHRs said they implemented the technology to improve patient care.

The survey also found that:

• 56% of health care providers are “somewhat to very excited” about telemedicine;
• Two-thirds of health care providers are satisfied with the IT systems they have in place, as well as their IT vendors, integrators and consultants; and
• About one-third of health care providers canceled or postponed health IT investments because of the economy (Enrado, Healthcare IT News, 12/16).

Above article published on http://www.ihealthbeat.org/articles/2009/12/17/survey-health-providers-eye-health-it-to-boost-efficiency-patient-care.aspx

The final report of the European Commission’s EHR IMPACT study looked at more than 700 indicators of cost and benefits based on case studies of 11 EHR and e-prescribing systems being used in Europe, the U.S. and Israel.

The report concludes, “It takes at least four and more typically up to nine years before initiatives produce their first positive annual [socioeconomic return], and six to 11 years to realize a cumulative net benefit.”

The report notes that there are high costs in purchasing, deploying and using new health IT systems, as well as in involving clinical and managerial staff in the new systems. It concludes that realizing the financial benefits of health IT will depend on executive and managerial expertise in organizational change and resource management.

The report also notes that interoperability is key because many of the socioeconomic benefits of EHR systems are derived from making data more accessible.

The study concludes that because socioeconomic gains from health IT systems eventually exceed their costs and become substantial, “investment in such systems is worthwhile and justifies their net financial boost” (Whitfield, E-Health Europe, 12/16).

Above article published on http://www.ihealthbeat.org/articles/2009/12/17/ehr-benefits-take-time-to-realize-european-commission-study-finds.aspx