EHR Adoption Rising in Calif., but Implementation Problems Persist
The majority of health care providers in California have adopted electronic health record systems, but many have faced implementation challenges, some of which have negatively affected patient care, HealthyCal reports.
Background on EHR Adoption
According to HealthyCal, recent surveys found that more than 50% of providers in California have adopted EHR systems.
Meanwhile, a report released in November 2013 by the California HealthCare Foundation found that 77% of California adults view EHRs as a valuable health tracking tool. CHCF publishes California Healthline.
Implementation Problems
However, technical glitches and human error have hampered some providers' use of EHRs, according to HealthyCal.
Glen Moy, a senior program officer at CHCF, said it can take up to two years for physicians to become competent with EHRs and return to full productivity.
Moy noted that patient care can be less effective as physicians learn how to use the new systems.
During the first two years -- and especially during the first six months -- after EHR adoption, patients could experience:
- Difficulty accessing their data;
- More limited appointment availability; and
- Less-effective office visits.
Moy noted that small practices often lack the proper resources to implement EHR systems.
He added that "there is still a lot of room for improvement" among EHR vendors' products (Guzik, HealthyCal, 3/5).
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