Healthcare IT Research Center

In 2010 the national push for EHR adoption is accelerating due to the aggressive ARRA-HITECH incentives timeline. Physicians in solo and small practices [70% of Physicians] are faced with making a decision about purchasing an EHR solution in an environment where the case for electronic medical records has been debated for close to two decades. While installed in thousands of locations over that time, there still appears to be no clear-cut consensus among practitioners of the benefits of EHRs. What seems to make the issue more of a hurdle for small practices is not only limited resources, IT expertise and budget, but less tolerance for risk and more change. However, the focus should now be on the right fit for your practice and how to achieve a successful EHR implementation.

Given the reductions in reimbursements and pressures on finances, physicians in small practices are struggling more each year to see enough patients to keep their incomes from shrinking significantly. This seems to make the decision to implement an EMR more risky, even if the potential benefits are acknowledged and accepted. The complexity of EHR systems, as well as the current healthcare environment, cannot be underestimated. Results from our work support the need for strong physician leadership and management in the decision to adopt EHR.

Our research indicates that most of the EHR literature available is dated. In addition, many documents and studies focus on large practices. Most information available is from the Government and EHR Vendors and addresses the following topics:

• Stimulus Education [ARRA- HITECH Incentives]
• EHR Recommendations/Analysis
• EHR/PM Selection Criteria
• "Meaningful Use" Plan
• Implementation Planning
• Project Management
• Workflow Analysis

Our position is that the appropriate level of critical thinking, rigor and skepticism has not been demonstrated to physicians who must make an informed d3ecision about HER adoption. The escalating cost of healthcare and the downturn in the economy create a perfect storm to create real urgency for implementing EHR. Accordingly, our focus is to answer the question, should solo or small practices take advantage of the maximum financial incentives available and adopt EHR in 2010.