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PERSPECTIVE

Electronic Health Records: Just around the Corner? Or over the Cliff?

Richard J. Baron, MD; Elizabeth L. Fabens, MD; Melissa Schiffman, MD; and Erica Wolf, MD

2 August 2005 | Volume 143 Issue 3 | Pages 222-226

We recently implemented a full-featured electronic health record in our independent, 4-internist, community-based practice of general internal medicine. We encountered various challenges, some unexpected, in moving from paper to computer. This article describes the effects that use of electronic health records has had on our finances, work flow, and office environment. Its financial impact is not clearly positive; work flows were substantially disrupted; and the quality of the office environment initially deteriorated greatly for staff, physicians, and patients. That said, none of us would go back to paper health records, and all of us find that the technology helps us to better meet patient expectations, expedites many tedious work processes (such as prescription writing and creation of chart notes), and creates new ways in which we can improve the health of our patients. Five broad issues must be addressed to promote successful implementation of electronic health records in a small office: financing; interoperability, standardization, and connectivity of clinical information systems; help with redesign of work flow; technical support and training; and help with change management. We hope that sharing our experience can better prepare others who plan to implement electronic health records and inform policymakers on the strategies needed for success in the small practice environment.

Author and Article Information

From Greenhouse Internists, P.C., Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Acknowledgments: The authors thank their office staff for their courage, flexibility, and support throughout this project. Without their willingness to try something new, implementation of the electronic health record would not have been successful. They also thank business manager Debbie Preite for her leadership and willingness to learn more about computers than she ever thought she could, or wanted. Finally, they thank Cheryl Norvell for manuscript assistance and Steve Downs, Holly Humphrey, and David Reuben for their encouragement and review of an earlier draft of the manuscript.

Potential Financial Conflicts of Interest: None disclosed.

Requests for Single Reprints: Richard J. Baron, MD, Greenhouse Internists, P.C., 345 East Mt. Airy Avenue, Philadelphia, PA 19119; e-mail, rbaron{at}greenhouseinternists.com.

Current Author Addresses: Drs. Baron, Fabens, Schiffman, and Wolf: Greenhouse Internists, P.C., 345 East Mt. Airy Avenue, Philadelphia, PA 19119.

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