The implementation of electronic health records (EHR) as part of the Meaningful Use program from the U.S. Centers of Medicare and Medicaid Services has led the charge for removing all forms of paper records from medical offices. Health care providers in all corners of the industry, such as cardiology and Medical imaging, can be eligible for incentive payments for demonstrating their accurate use of the rising technology to the CMS. When it comes to going paperless, medical practices should be well on their way to disposing of all old records and converting their data to digital media. Failing to shift to EHRs or attest to Meaningful Use by 2015 could result in physician fee schedule adjustments for covered services, dropping them by 1 percent each year.
With the deadline less than a year away, it is time to examine just how paperless the health care industry has become.
Walking the digital path
According to Healthcare IT News, more than 20 percent of hospitals were completely paper-based in 2006. By the end of 2013, that number had dropped down to 6.9 percent. The numbers come from the EMR Adoption Models established by the Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society back in 2004, which sought to help providers track their progression toward a paperless medical environment.
Similar to Meaningful Use, the EMRAM uses various stages to measure the transition for practices. Each level deals with the overall readiness of a facility to adopt EMR software instead of continuing to use paper records. In 2006, only 0.1 percent of providers were near the top – stage 6 – and none were at stage 7. However, by the end of last year, when combined 13.3 percent of providers had reached those levels.
The biggest spike was between the second quarter of 2011 through the third quarter of 2013.
“That’s nine quarters, which may seem like an odd number – why would you want to compare nine quarters? The reason is that Q2 2011 is when Meaningful Use checks started to go out in the mail,” said John Hoyt, executive vice president of HIMSS Analytics, as quoted by the news source.
Paving the way with MU
The impact of Meaningful Use is underscored by its effect on EHR adoption and the trend of making practices go paperless. Although some aspects of the health care market still utilize physical documentation, the threat of financial penalties should be enough to spur conversion to digital record keeping.
Additionally, there are numerous benefits to going paperless that providers should be aware of, according to iTriage. Firstly, EHRs make it easier to exchange pertinent health information across disparate practices. This allows physicians to better coordinate care strategies for patients by sending medical data and Digital Imaging scans to one another.
Secondly, with the implementation of login credentials and patient portals, providers can bolster their security efforts with electronic data. It also protects the information from any natural disasters or damage sustained from unexpected events, such as fires and floods.
Finally, going paperless can facilitate prescription management, as the information can be sent directly to pharmacies for filling.
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Ronny Bachrach
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