EHRs: Watching and Waiting

Bryan McClelland

<< A Day in My Practice i ... Previous article

Employed Physicians: L ... Next article >>

Nov-Dec 2011 Issue

LETTERS

Fam Pract Manag. 2011 Nov-Dec;18(6):8.

EHRs: Watching and waiting

In regard to “The 2011 EHR User Satisfaction Survey: Responses From 2,719 Family Physicians” [July/August 2011], I used to have an electronic health record (EHR) system. The company that created it was bought out, and then the second company was bought out. The third company stopped supporting my system and instead offered me a newly designed system with new hardware – at full price.

I have not yet found a system that is actually faster than paper or more useful. I can't see investing in unstable products that are designed to increase reimbursement rather than to improve clinical outcomes and care. The cost of these systems is significant and, from my best calculations, will slow me down and cost me more (net) than the bonuses I'll receive. I'm sitting on the sidelines with an open mind.

Bryan McClelland, MD

Alabaster, Ala.

WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU

Send your comments to fpmedit@aafp.org. Submission of a letter will be construed as granting AAFP permission to publish the letter in any of its publications in any form. We cannot respond to all letters we receive. Those chosen for publication will be edited for length and style.

Copyright © 2011 by the American Academy of Family Physicians.
This content is owned by the AAFP. A person viewing it online may make one printout of the material and may use that printout only for his or her personal, non-commercial reference. This material may not otherwise be downloaded, copied, printed, stored, transmitted or reproduced in any medium, whether now known or later invented, except as authorized in writing by the AAFP. Contact fpmserv@aafp.org for copyright questions and/or permission requests.