Electronic Medical Records Could Save Billions

Using a statistical model, Rand Research Corporation determined that if electronic health records systems were adopted by 90% of hospitals and doctors the potential savings would be $81 billion a year.  Rand also reports that < 25% of hospitals and 20% of private practices have begun using electronic medical records. However, the study cautioned the immediate savings would not be realized by the doctors and hospitals making the investment, but rather would go to Medicare and private insurers. In addition, experts caution that most of the projected advances pertaining to electronic medical records are hypothetical and often based on unproven assumptions. Other difficulties include:

•    Each practice or hospital will recoup its investment costs at a different rate
•    To be fully effective, record networks will have to be able to share records
•    There is still doubt as to which computer systems to purchase.

For information on available electronic medical record systems you can consult Electronic Medical Record Comparisons By Physicians for Physicians.

Comments

[Christian Downs]

Watch out, make sure what every you purchase or design will one day be capable to adjusting to what ever system Medicare uses for P4P.