Tools for Each Stage of Adoption
EHR Investigation - Do I Need It? For What?
What Is the Electronic Health Record?
This is a chapter written by Jerome H. Carter, MD, FACP, FHIMSS from his book Electronic Health Records, 2nd Edition.
The Value of Electronic Health Records
This EHRA document highlights 28 diverse provider sites and how their EHR has improved patient safety and quality improvement, operational efficiencies and cost savings, and throughput and patient/staff satisfaction.
Case Studies:
The following case studies record the experiences of real practices that went through EHR implementation. You may benefit initially from quickly reading through these reports to gain a better understanding of the challenges and benefits of electronic health records.
- North Fulton Family Medicine (Cumming, GA)
- Greenhouse Internists (Philadelphia, PA)
- Evans Medical Group (Augusta, GA)
- Murray Hill Medical Group (New York, NY)
Assessing Your Practice Performance:
ACP Practice Management Check Up Tool
This tool will provide your practice with an opportunity to evaluate your performance on productivity, coding, and office functions in comparison to national benchmarks. You can use the results of this analysis to help identify opportunities for practice work flow improvements, scheduling and other key office functions.
ACP Coding Scenario Tool
Some EHRs provide coding assistance. If your practice is currently undercoding, an EHR could help in properly coding and documenting, thereby increasing practice revenue. This tool compares your coding pattern against the Medicare national average and provides a hypothetical estimate of the dollar difference between your current coding and coding adjusted to the national average.
ACP Transcription Cost/Savings Calculator
If your practice currently uses a transcription service, this tool will provide you a projection of potential savings from avoiding transcription through the use of an EHR
Selection and Purchase
Starting the Electronic Health Record Selection Process
This is a chapter written by Jerome H. Carter, MD, FACP, FHIMSS from his book: Electronic Health Records, 2nd Edition available from ACP Press.
Using the EHR Evaluation Checklist
Appendix C from Electronic Health Records by Jerome H. Carter, MD, FACP, FHIMSS. This is a 7 page feature checklist that can be used to help evaluate EHRs.
ACP Electronic Health Record Partner Program
The EHR Partners Program is a service offered exclusively to ACP members and is a collaborative effort between ACP and participating certified EHR companies. ACP members can review detailed information on these CCHIT certified systems including member satisfaction ratings, a completed RFI (see link below to RFI used), and pricing scenarios developed for ACP by participating vendors.
ACP EHR System Selection Checklist
This is a one page checklist for important steps in the EHR selection process.
ACP Vendor Request for Information
This is a detailed RFI which ACP used for the EHR Partners Program
Master Quotation
This is another alternative developed by the eHealth Initiative.
Certified Electronic Health Records
The Certification Commission for Health Information Technology (CCHIT reviews and assesses EHR products for their functionality, security, and interoperability. A list of the CCHIT criteria is available on this site – as well lists of products that have passed CCHIT evaluation criteria.
CCHIT also created the EHR Decisions website and has an interactive map of incentive programs across the United States.
ACP Internist Article(s):
Group Purchasing Puts EHRs in Small Offices
Implementation: Getting Your EHR Up & Running
Advance Planning & Workflow Analysis
This is a brief document outlining workflow considerations prior to implementation of the EHR.
Common Implementation Problems
ACP Internist Articles:
Investing in EHRs Pays Off in Paperless Perks
Slow and Steady” Best Approach to Going Paperless
The Files are Electronic, but the Staff is Only Human
Other Resources
Glossary:
Appendix A from Electronic Health Records by Jerome H. Carter, MD, FACP, FHIMSS: This is a well-organized glossary of common terms used when discussing health information technology.
External Links:
Agency for Healthcare Research & Quality (AHRQ): National Resource Center for Health Information Technology
This site has a vast knowledge library, tools, resources worthy of exploration and use.
MedQIC
This is a site developed to support quality improvement organizations and the DOQ-IT program. Go to the Physician Office tab and click EHR Roadmap on the left. All materials are free.
| The information, documents, opinions, and any references to brand or product names expressed on this website do not necessarily reflect the official position of the American College of Physicians ("ACP") and ACP makes no representations, warranties, or assurances as to the accuracy or completeness of the information provided herein. The information contained on this website is not to be construed as legal or medical advice and is not to be substituted for individual research or to replace the need to consult with professionals. The information provided herein is offered as a service to members and other visitors for informational purposes only and any action or outcome from its use is the responsibility of such user. |
Page updated: 08-01-08