EMR On Rise, But Still Obstacles to Overcome in Overall Health IT

While EHR use is clearly on the rise, there are still some general challenges related to Health IT. The rise in EHR use is clear, with around 26 percent of hospitals having a comprehensive EHR system - and this number is quintuple that of the figure from 2010, according to an AHA report. So, yes, EHR is being used more, but most hospitals are using basic EHR systems.

With this, it brings up the question of when and how will hospitals start using more advanced systems, but in an efficient and reasonable way. The AHA has conducted studies on this issue, and has found that 59 percent of hospitals have a basic or comprehensive EHR system (quadruple the figure from 2010) but while the majority of these hospitals meet most of Stage 2 meaningful  use requirements, only 5.8 percent are able to meet all of the standards.

According to eWeek’s article, “Stage 2 Meaningful Use includes 16 core objectives, such as the ability to view and download their health information, as well as the ability of hospitals to transmit health information between facilities, such as a skilled nursing center and a hospital.”

While critical access hospitals (CAHs) appear to be behind, hopefully they can bridge the gap and adapt to Stage 2 Meaningful Use.

Stay tuned for updates on Stage 2 Meaningful Use and how to overcome obstacles related to Health IT and EHR.