EHR FRUSTRATION
Though the goals for Electronic Medical Records (EHRs) were commendable, the results have been awful. The objectives were to improve medical provider communication and share patient information. Providers have spent a ton of money trying to make them work, but so far it’s just created expense and frustration, and, in fact probably reduced the quality of medical care.
The CMS (Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services) added to the headache with mandates to use EHRs, and initiated the “Meaningful Use” program, but the AMA and many other state and county medical associations have challenged the timelines and their stages. CMS recently issued some final and proposed regulations for stages 2 and 3 of meaningful use in response.
Though something like 80% of physicians adopted some form of an EHR, the results are dismal. Lots of them are so disgusted, they do not plan to continue their use, willing to accept financial penalties imposed by CMS. Providers hoped EHRs would provide the tools to improve patient care with the ability to exchange information and allow better tools for planning. Instead, the systems won’t talk to each, cost a lot to maintain, slow down the actual patient encounter process, and seriously impact cash flow.
With so much competition in the vendor market, the expectation is that software systems will get better and the best ones will rise to the top, so providers are now waiting for that process to unfold. They don’t want to get it wrong a second time.
Hopefully, in spite of the setbacks and costs, technology will ultimately be an integral part of patient care and the EHR will reach the intended results.
In most of the Med-Certification.com training courses, EHRs are explored and the knowledge of how to use them. The Medical Scribe Career is an excellent option since the frustration with using the EHR has created the need for the Scribe. They step in to save the day for the doctor, allowing them to spend time with the patient and create sufficient time to see more patients. Learn how to scribe now. It’s fun and interesting and a growing partnership in healthcare.