Now that the media hype is abating and the HITEC funding has been approved, where does the industry really stand on EMR adoption? A recent report found that, despite the significant funding available to physicians to purchase and implement EMRs, Medicaid penalties, not incentives, will boost EMR adoption:

“Provisions in the stimulus law that call for cuts in Medicare reimbursements, rather than a multibillion-dollar incentive program, will do more to push the adoption of electronic medical records among hospitals and doctor practices by 2015, according to a report from PricewaterhouseCoopers’ Health Research Institute. The survey, which involved 100 hospital CIOs, also said that providers need to evaluate whether they should start deploying EMR systems before details such as “meaningful use” and certification are finalized.”

Whatever it is that spurs adoption, whether the desire to improve patient care, the need reduce clerical time and errors or the potential for advancement in treatment possible by aggregating patient information in electronic data sets, widespread adoption will be a challenge given the current EMR usage rates nationwide. A recent study from the New England Journal of Medicine points out that hospital EMR adoption rates are still abysmal:

“Think the prospect of an IT stimulus has gotten hospitals all hot and bothered over idea of implementing EMRs? Well, not really, if a new study published by the New England Journal of Medicine is on target.

The study concluded that only about 8 percent of the 3,000 hospitals studied by researchers used even a basic EMR in a single unit, which included nurse or physician notes. And only 1.5 percent of non-federal U.S. facilities use a comprehensive EMR. (Fierce Health IT)”

Another release from SK & A Information Services, Inc. reports that 67% of physicians still do not use an EMR, even though another report states that EMRs were named a top priority in an HIMSS survey of healthcare information professionals:

“Implementing electronic medical records has become the top priority for senior healthcare information professionals, a major US survey has shown.

“The survey revealed that although recession is being felt in the US, healthcare and healthcare IT are still expected to grow over the coming year.

“The 20th Health Information and Management Systems Society (HIMSS) annual survey of chief information officers found that 31% of the 304 participants said their number one priority is to ensure their organisation has a full EMR.”

Read more about the report here. Obviously there is huge opportunity for EMR vendors to connect with physicians, provide them with the information they need to select and implement and EMR and push for the widespread adoption this funding is designed to instigate. How quickly things get moving, however, will be largely dependent on how quickly the newly appointed government funding overseers can agree on next steps, define regulatory standards and begin funding distribution. More coverage as this issue progresses. For more infomation about certified EMRs, current funding requirements and what physicians need to do to begin selecting and implementing an EMR software under the current legislative language, click here.