Physicians who use EHR systems that meet meaningful use criteria are reporting significant timesaving benefits, according to a report published by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention’s National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS).
Specifically, surveyed physicians reported increased efficiencies in the areas of sending prescriptions and receiving lab results, as well as less time spent responding to pharmacy calls.
The report data came from the National Ambulatory Medical Care Survey and included physicians who have adopted an EHR system. The survey, funded by the Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology, followed respondents annually over a three-year period, from 2011 through 2013. The report presents nationally weighted estimates for 1,793 EHR adopters. The sample included nonfederal, office-based physicians and excluded anesthesiologists, radiologists and pathologists.
The findings suggest that most physicians have experienced various clinical and financial benefits, as well as practice efficiencies, from using EHR systems, with physicians using an EHR system that meets meaningful use (MU) criteria reporting greater specific timesaving benefits, the report stated.
Eighty-two (82) percent of physicians using an EHR meeting MU criteria reported that sending prescriptions electronically saves time, compared to 67 percent of physicians using an EHR not meeting MU criteria. Seventy-five (75) percent of physicians said they receive lab results faster with an EHR that meets MU criteria, compared to 61 percent of physicians in the non-MU EHR group.
Respondents in both groups said the amount of time spent to plan, review, order and document care has increased (76 percent in the MU group, and 78 percent in the non-MU group).
More doctors in the non-MU group (34 percent) than in the MU group (28 percent) said the time spent responding to pharmacy calls has increased.
The survey also looked at clinical and financial benefits derived from using EHR technology.
On the clinical side:
- Both groups (94 percent of MU EHR users and 91 percent on non-MU EHR users) said their EHR makes records more readily available at the point of care.
- Seventy-five (75) percent of MU EHR users said the technology allows them to deliver better patient care, compared to 69 percent in the non-MU group.
- Seventy (70) percent of MU EHR users said their EHR enhances data confidentiality, compared to 60 percent in the non_MU group.
- Half (50 percent) of MU EHR users said their EHR disrupts the way they interact with patients, while 60 percent of non-MU EHR users said the same.
On the financial side:
- Seventy-five (75) percent of MU EHR users said their practice saves on costs associated with managing and storing paper records, compared to 72 percent in the non-MU EHR group.
- Twenty-two (22) percent of MU EHR users said billing for services is less complete, while 18 percent of non-MU EHR users said the same.
The survey also found that physicians with an EHR system that meets MU criteria were more likely to agree that the system enhanced data confidentiality, compared with those having a system not meeting the criteria.
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Frank Irving is the Editor at Medical Practice Insider, a publication of MedTech Media that provides business and technology intelligence to forward-thinking medical practices.
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