EMR Implementation: Efficiency vs. Incentives

Government incentives have made EMR implementation a hot topic for many medical practitioners. Everyone loves getting money back from the government, but don’t let the incentive money push you into a decision you will regret. For any practice still using paper, the sales pitch is enticing. Integrate your operations! Go paperless! Improve profitability! Combine this with the government incentives, and the motivation to sign up is pretty compelling.

Unfortunately, the hype doesn’t match reality for many of these EMR implementations. For example: 

• EMR implementation and use can be so daunting that some have quit practicing medicine over it.
• Only 11 percent of all customers for a leading EMR have achieved “meaningful use,” qualifying them for the federal incentives...