Top 5 worst EHR myths
August 10, 2011Rumors about electronic medical records continue to persist, but Environmental Intelligence, LLC in Plano, TX is trying to separate the myths from the facts.
- EHRs are bad for “bedside manner.” Does a computer ruin the interaction between patients and doctors? The opposite is true, according to a 2010 Government Accountability Office report. The study found that EHRs help doctors have more information about the patient and contribute to better communication. A good EHR allows a doctor to spend more time with a patient and less with paperwork. Plus, patients can get real-time access to their own health records online through the doctor’s EHR system.
- You can’t teach old doctors new tricks. Although there is an initial learning curve during the EHR adoption process, an easy-to-use EHR can significantly improve workflows once an EHR is fully implemented. Older physicians often lead the charge for an EHR transition in order to prepare their practice for sale when they retire. Tools such as dictation software and customizable templates can help win over even the most technology-adverse docs.
- Only hospitals use EHRs. While EHRs are more common in large medical facilities such as hospitals, health technology is starting to sweep into smaller private practices. Private practice physicians deliver more than 80 percent of all care provided for uninsured patients and serve as the front-lines for primary care in the U.S. – so getting them to use technology that improves the quality of care is especially important.
- Having my data stored in an EHR is a security risk. Federal HIPAA regulations are very strict about who can see inside your chart and give your EHR records protection beyond what’s possible with paper charts. In order to open an electronic chart, a medical professional needs strict login permissions. The EHR system tracks each time your records are accessed and backs up data in a safe and secure way so that records are always available to you and your doctors when needed. Plus, Web-based EHR systems protect from disasters, floods, building fires, and tornadoes that could easily destroy paper records.
- EHRs are expensive. The final myth is actually true a lot of the time. Legacy EHR vendors still charge small medical practices $100,000 or more for software, with additional money spent on hardware and IT maintenance. However, new affordable EHR technology is emerging that is making it easier for small practices to join the technology transformation.
Environmental Intelligence is an Outsourced IT Company that provides complete End-to-End physician Workflows Consulting, Practice Management Integration and Electronic Health Records solutions. Our experienced, physician driven administrative staff and dedicated IT team, provide Practice Management expertise to private and public medical practices across the United States. We deliver complete End-To-End Consulting, IT Design, Project Management, Integration & Implementation of (EHR)Electronic Health Records to all of our clients. We consistently facilitate client registration for the Medicare and Medicaid (EHR) Electronic Health Record Incentive Program and insure clients meet Meaningful Use criteria to qualify for incentive payments.
All EHR Technology is ONC-ATCB 2011/2012 Certified.
