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Brailer: EHR a 'groundswell,' but there's still work to do

HIM Connection, April 12, 2005

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Vendors have reported increased sales of EHRs during the past year, according to David Brailer, MD, PhD, national HIT coordinator, who spoke during the Health Information Management and Systems Society Annual Conference and Exhibition in February.

In addition, "consultants have reported increasing engagements for healthcare business transformation, advocacy and research groups have produced dozens of reports on [HIT], and policy organizations have sponsored countless conferences," Brailer said. Physicians and consumers now better understand the value of HIT and payers and purchasers have stepped up their efforts to support this change, he added.

"This is a groundswell that is nationwide, broadly supported, and growing," he continued.

Three main barriers
Despite the progress made, Brailer said certain barriers exist and need to be addressed. One concern is variable EHR adoption. He said that 57% of large group practices (i.e., 50 or more physicians) use an EHR, but only 13% of solo physicians do.

"I'm proud of the innovative, risk-taking early adopters who have led the way in EHRs," he said. "However, we have an obligation to level the playing field so all practices and hospitals can adopt these life-saving tools."

Another barrier is proprietary data, or the different technologies used by vendors that create unconnected "silos" of information. "If interoperability is not solidified and built into EHRs, a generation of investment will be lost, as will an opportunity for fundamental improvement in care delivery," he said.

Privacy and information control are also imperative. "Everybody wants it; many fear it, whether you're talking about information technology or paper," said Brailer. He cited the need to explain to the general public why electronic systems are preferable to paper. "We need to be disciplined about developing the business rules, policies, and protections that get consumer health information where they want it--immediately--and keep it from going where they don't."

This excerpt is adapted from Electronic Health Records Briefing.

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