Electronic health records: feds outline strategies for increasing use of EHRs.(Practice Trends)

WASHINGTON -- A new report from the Department of Health and Human Services outlines 12 strategies aimed at bringing electronic health records into clinical practice, interconnecting physicians, personalizing care, and improving population health.

The framework, created by the new National Health Information Technology Coordinator in less than 3 months, differs from past efforts because it comes at a time when health care is at the tipping point, HHS Secretary Tommy G. Thompson said at a conference sponsored by his department.

"We are reaching that critical mass," Mr. Thompson said. "We're not going to slow down. In fact, we're going to push it even harder."

Despite evidence that EHRs can help to improve patient health status, reduce medical errors, and promote evidence-based care, few physicians and institutions have adopted them. About 13% of hospitals reported use of EHRs in 2002 and physician use rates ranged from 14% to 28% during the same year, according to the report.

Major barriers include insufficient resources, a perceived negative return on investment, implementation, and operation, the report said.

As a result, HHS plans to consider policy and regulatory changes that could offer incentives to physicians who adopt EHRs. For example, HHS will consider regional grants and contracts to stimulate adoption. It will also identify possible incentives to the banking and loan industries to provide low-rate loans to physicians who invest in EHRs.

The agency will also consider easing some of the restrictions in the physician self-referral prohibition and antikickback statutes to allow hospitals to provide physicians with EHRs, hardware, and other support that could accelerate adoption of technology.