Practices with EHR systems may see ROI in quality of care
Though making the switch to electronic technology may generate some built-in efficiency, is it a reach to suggest its use boosts quality of care? One expert explores the costs and factors.
Listen to John Thompson, MD's presentation at the 2014 meeting of Current Concepts in Ophthalmology at the Wilmer Eye Institute/Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore.
Take-home message: Though making the switch to electronic technology may generate some built-in efficiency, is it a reach to suggest its use boosts quality of care? One expert explores the costs and factors.
By Stephanie Skernivitz
Baltimore-It’s no secret that many in the health-care arena-insurers, patients, governmental regulators, lawyers, and physicians-are tired of handwritten records.
Thanks to the push behind the Health Information Technologyfor Economic and Clinical Health Act passed several years ago, it provided strong incentives for pursuing electronic health records (EHRs), according to one expert. Though making the switch to electronic technology may generate some built-in efficiency, is it a reach to suggest its use boosts quality of care?
“The basis of this discussion is that the U.S. government and regulators are convinced that EHRs can improve the quality of care given the patient,” said John Thompson, MD, a partner with Retina Specialists, Baltimore, and a member of Greater Baltimore Medical Centers ophthalmology department and its Advisory Committee chairman.
The thought is that it is also going to decrease the cost of medical care by saving complications and reducing unnecessary testing and more, Dr. Thompson added.
“If your practice switched to EHRs by July 2014 you were eligible for a $24K bonus,” he said. “If you didn’t achieve meaningful use by July 1, you were to be penalized 1% this year.”
The requirement was for physicians to have it done by July 2014, but if a vendor couldn’t produce the 2014 version in time there were exemptions, if done by January, according to Dr. Thompson.
“The interesting thing many people don’t know is that if less than 75% of eligible professionals achieve this, by 2018, the penalty is going to ratchet up to 5%,” he said.
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