Business
Hospital EMR use not yet widespread
■ An occasional snapshot of current facts and trends in medicine.
Quick View. Posted March 19, 2007
Only 11% of community hospitals have fully implemented EMR systems, while 57% have "partially" implemented systems and 32% have not started.
About 16% of hospitals said they had most or all functions of an EMR in place in 2006, up from 10% in 2005. The rate of EMR use in physician practices is estimated at 20%. Cost is the main barrier to EMR implementation, as cited by 86% of the hospitals responding. Hospitals estimate they are spending $17,616 per bed -- $12,060 for operating costs and $5,556 for capital costs -- for EMR implementation and use, a number up slightly since 2005.
Source: American Hospital Assn. study, "Continued Progress: Hospital Use of Information Technology," Feb. 27