EHR Implementation Rewards

Electronic health records (EHR) sometimes get a bad reputation due to the high cost of implementation as well as the operational challenges they pose. However, it’s important to note that many physicians have successfully incorporated EHRs into their practices and are reaping the benefits from this powerful technology.

HealthIT.gov has published a variety of these success stories on its Web site. We’ve compiled some of the most important takeaway points pertaining to small practices and solo practitioners. Consider the following innovative ways in which practices are using EHR technology to improve care.

 How Patient Portal Increases Patient Engagement?

Patient portals increase communication between providers and patients and can even improve the quality of care that patients receive. This technology that provides patients with 24-hour secure online access to their health information is also an important part of Meaningful Use Stage 2, which focuses on patient engagement and education. Stage 2 requires providers to engage at least 5% of their patients through the portal in order to receive financial incentives. Portals help providers meet important Stage 2 requirements, such as the following:

How to Engage With Your Patients While Using EHR?

Electronic medical records offer a number of efficiency and accuracy benefits for physicians offices, but a new study shows tech tools can also reduce patient engagement when not used correctly. During the study, researchers from the University of Wisconsin and Northwest University analyzed 100 doctors visits that involved physicians accessing patient data through electronic health records. Researchers noted that physicians looked at the computer screen for one-third of the visit. The patient also looked at the screen more, even though researchers pointed out that the patients didn't always know what they were looking at.

As a physician, achieving meaningful use for your EMR system is essential to its success within your practice. However, meaningful use involves more than just making sure you're using all of the components of your electronic medical records. A more broad definition of "meaningful use" is coming to the surface, which includes being able to provide patients with the types of services they're requesting. In short, patients want to be engaged, and regulations are changing in such a way to allow that to happen.