There are many factors that have raised the awareness and need for Electronic Health Records (EHR) in the ambulatory setting – consumer demand, regulatory changes, cost-cutting pressures from Washington, desire for physician alignment, patient safety and quality, as well as new and comprehensive vendor offerings. Despite the strong case for implementation of EHRs, many governance challenges and technical complexities can derail their overall success.
The Stark/Anti-Kickback regulations must be studied in detail to determine the appropriate level of assistance a health care organization can provide to its employed versus voluntary physicians. Many physicians remain skeptical about their overall efficiency with the insertion of a computer system in their daily workflow. Few vendors offer a seamless compilation of information from inpatient, ambulatory and other care settings to achieve a cohesive EHR. Working through these business and technical issues is key to successful implementation and achieving the desired benefits.