Reducing the Costs of U.S. Health Care: The Role of Electronic Health Records
Authors: Rainu Kaushal
Journal: Annals of Internal Medicine (2013)

EditorialsJuly 16, 2013Reducing the Costs of U.S. Health Care: The Role of Electronic Health RecordsRainu Kaushal, MD, MPHRainu Kaushal, MD, MPHFrom Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, New York.Search for more papers by this authorAuthor, Article, and Disclosure Informationhttps://doi.org/10.7326/0003-4819-159-2-201307160-00014 SectionsAboutFull TextPDF ToolsAdd to favoritesDownload CitationsTrack CitationsPermissions ShareFacebookTwitterLinkedInRedditEmail The United States is spending up to an unprecedented $30 billion on electronic health records (EHRs) through the 2009 Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health Act, colloquially known as the federal meaningful use program (1). This is one of the largest public infrastructural investments made by the federal government in health care or any other industry (2). It is widely believed that wiring the health care system will improve the quality, safety, and efficiency of health care. The evidence behind improvements in quality and safety is solid and growing (3). However, we have little empirical evidence that the ...References1. U.S. Government Accountability Office. Electronic Health Records: Number and Characteristics of Providers Awarded Medicare Incentive Payments for 2011. Accessed at www.gao.gov/assets/600/593078.pdf on 3 June 2013. Google Scholar2. Blumenthal D and Tavenner M. The “meaningful use” regulation for electronic health records. N Engl J Med. 2010;363:501-4. [PMID: 20647183] CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar3. Buntin MB, Burke MF, Hoaglin MC, and Blumenthal D. The benefits of health information technology: a review of the recent literature shows predominantly positive results. Health Aff (Millwood). 2011;30:464-71. [PMID: 21383365] CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar4. Goldzweig CL, Towfigh A, Maglione M, and Shekelle PG. Costs and benefits of health information technology: new trends from the literature. Health Aff (Millwood). 2009;28:w282-93. [PMID: 19174390] CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar5. Adler-Milstein J, Salzberg C, Franz C, Orav EJ, Newhouse JP, and Bates DW. Effect of electronic health records on health care costs: longitudinal comparative evidence from community practices. Ann Intern Med. 2013;159:97-104. LinkGoogle Scholar6. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. Meaningful use. Accessed at www.cms.gov/Regulations-and-Guidance/Legislation/EHRIncentivePrograms/Meaningful_Use.html on 3 June 2013. Google Scholar7. Massachusetts General Laws. An Act Improving the Quality of Health Care and Reducing Costs Through Increased Transparency, Efficiency, and Innovation. 2012:104. Google Scholar8. Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology. Regional Extension Centers (RECs). Accessed at www.healthit.gov/providers-professionals/regional-extension-centers-recs on 3 June 2013. Google Scholar9. Frisse ME, Johnson KB, Nian H, Davison CL, Gadd CS, Unertl KM, et al. The financial impact of health information exchange on emergency department care. J Am Med Inform Assoc. 2012;19:328-33. [PMID: 22058169] CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar Author, Article, and Disclosure InformationAffiliations: From Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, New York.Disclosures: Disclosures can be viewed at www.acponline.org/authors/icmje/ConflictOfInterestForms.do?msNum=M13-1341.Corresponding Author: Rainu Kaushal, MD, MPH, Weill Cornell Medical College, 1300 York Avenue, New York, NY 10065; e-mail: [email protected]. PreviousarticleNextarticle Advertisement FiguresReferencesRelatedDetailsSee AlsoEffect of Electronic Health Records on Health Care Costs: Longitudinal Comparative Evidence From Community Practices Julia Adler-Milstein , Claudia Salzberg , Calvin Franz , E. John Orav , Joseph P. Newhouse , and David W. Bates Metrics July 16, 2013Volume 159, Issue 2Page: 151-152KeywordsCancer screeningComputersDiagnostic radiologyElectronic medical recordsHealth careHealth care providersHealth care utilizationHealth information technologyHospitalizationsInformation technologyInpatientsLegislationMammographyMedicarePopulation statisticsSafetyTelemedicine ePublished: 16 July 2013 Issue Published: July 16, 2013 CopyrightCopyright © 2013 by American College of Physicians. All Rights Reserved.PDF DownloadLoading ...