Potential Benefits of an EHR

Benefits of an EHR can be categorized as follows:

Potential Productivity and Financial Improvement

    * Fewer chart pulls
    * Improved efficiency of handling telephone messages and medication refills
    * Improved billing
    * Reduced transcription costs
    * Increased formulary compliance and clearer prescriptions leading to fewer pharmacy call backs
    * Improved coding of visits

Additional potential benefits may include: population management and proactive patient reminders; improved reimbursement from payers due to EHR usage; and participation in pay-for-performance programs.

Quality of Care Improvement

    * Easier preventive care leading to increased preventive care services
    * Point-of-care decision support
    * Rapid and remote access to patient information
    * Easier chronic disease management
    * Integration of evidence-based clinical guidelines

Job Satisfaction Improvement

    * Fewer repetitive, tedious tasks
    * Less "chart chasing"
    * Improved intra-office communication
    * Access to patient information while on-call or at the hospital
    * Easier compliance with regulations
    * Demonstrable high-quality care

Customer Satisfaction Improvement

    * Quick access to their records
    * Reduced turn-around time for telephone messages and medication refills
    * A more efficient office leads to improved care access for patients
    * Improved continuity of care (fewer visits without the chart)
    * Improved delivery of patient education materials

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