It's Time to Meaningfully Use Electronic Health Records: Our Patients Are Demanding It
Authors: Richard J. Baron
Journal: Annals of Internal Medicine (2011)

Editorials17 May 2011It's Time to Meaningfully Use Electronic Health Records: Our Patients Are Demanding ItRichard J. Baron, MDRichard J. Baron, MDFrom Greenhouse Internists, Philadelphia, PA 19119.Search for more papers by this authorAuthor, Article, and Disclosure Informationhttps://doi.org/10.7326/0003-4819-154-10-201105170-00012 SectionsAboutFull TextPDF ToolsAdd to favoritesDownload CitationsTrack CitationsPermissions ShareFacebookTwitterLinkedInRedditEmail In this issue, Hussain (1) offers a critique of “meaningful use” incentives as being top-down and provides a list of what he believes to be erroneous assumptions that undergird the program, including limited evidence of return on investment, effect on quality, or the superiority of a comprehensive approach over an isolated functionality approach. Others (2, 3) have compiled similar lists of “fallacies” and offered cautionary notes. The core of Hussain's proposed alternative is that a successful approach should “build on the needs of providers first.”As one who has experienced both the pitfalls and the promise of adopting an electronic ...References1. Hussain AA. Meaningful use of information technology: a local perspective. Ann Intern Med. 2011;154:690-2. LinkGoogle Scholar2. Karsh BT, Weinger MB, Abbott PA, Wears RL. Health information technology: fallacies and sober realities. J Am Med Inform Assoc. 2010;17:617-23. [PMID: 20962121] CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar3. Sinsky CA. E-nirvana: are we there yet? Fam Pract Manag. 2008;15:6-8. [PMID: 18422260] MedlineGoogle Scholar4. Miller RH, West C, Brown TM, Sim I, Ganchoff C. The value of electronic health records in solo or small group practices. Health Aff (Millwood). 2005;24:1127-37. [PMID: 16162555] CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar5. Institute of Medicine. Unequal Treatment: Confronting Racial and Ethnic Disparities in Health Care. Washington, DC: National Academies Pr; 2002. Google Scholar6. Baron RJ. The chasm between intention and achievement in primary care. JAMA. 2009;301:1922-4. [PMID: 19436020] CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar7. Baron RJ. What's keeping us so busy in primary care? A snapshot from one practice. N Engl J Med. 2010;362:1632-6. [PMID: 20427812] CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar8. Adler-Milstein J, Bates DW, Jha AK. A survey of health information exchange organizations in the United States: implications for meaningful use. Ann Intern Med. 2011;154:666-71. LinkGoogle Scholar9. Gans D, Kralewski J, Hammons T, Dowd B. Medical groups' adoption of electronic health records and information systems. Health Aff (Millwood). 2005;24:1323-33. [PMID: 16162580] CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar10. Hsiao CJ, Hing E, Socey TC, Cai B. Electronic Medical Record/Electronic Health Record Systems of Office-based Physicians: United States, 2009 and Preliminary 2010 State Estimates. Atlanta: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; 2010. Google Scholar11. Baron RJ. Quality improvement with an electronic health record: achievable, but not automatic. Ann Intern Med. 2007;147:549-52. [PMID: 17938393] LinkGoogle Scholar Author, Article, and Disclosure InformationAffiliations: From Greenhouse Internists, Philadelphia, PA 19119.Disclosures: Disclosures can be viewed at www.acponline.org/authors/icmje/ConflictOfInterestForms.do?msNum=M11-0731.Corresponding Author: Richard J. Baron, MD, Greenhouse Internists, 345 East Mt. Airy Avenue, Philadelphia, PA 19119; e-mail, [email protected]com. PreviousarticleNextarticle Advertisement FiguresReferencesRelatedDetailsSee AlsoA Survey of Health Information Exchange Organizations in the United States: Implications for Meaningful Use Julia Adler-Milstein , David W. Bates , and Ashish K. Jha Meaningful Use of Information Technology: A Local Perspective Anwar A. Hussain Metrics 17 May 2011Volume 154, Issue 10Page: 697-698KeywordsClinical laboratoriesCommunication in health careElectronic medical recordsForecastingHealth information technologyMammographyMotivationPatientsResearch designResearch laboratories ePublished: 17 May 2011 Issue Published: 17 May 2011 Copyright & PermissionsCopyright © 2011 by American College of Physicians. All Rights Reserved.PDF downloadLoading ...