Feeling dissatisfied with your electronic health record? You’re not alone.
According to a recent Black Book Rankings report, a staggering 17% of physician practices are considering switching EHR vendors by the end of 2013.
In other words, out of 17,000 active EHR users surveyed, one in six wants to exchange their first choice EHR. Some people don’t even go through six primary physicians in their lifetimes.
Black Book’s managing partner Doug Brown attributes Meaningful Use incentives to creating an artificial market that spawned dozens of immature EHR products.
He adds, new EHR firms have been so preoccupied with backlogged implementations and increasing sales that development issues are being left behind.
Most disconcerting to current EHR users are unmet appeals for more sophisticated interfaces with other practice programs, complex connectivity and networking schemes, better pacing with accountable care organizations and the incorporation of mobile devices.
Other top reasons why practices are looking for an EHR switch include:
– 80% of EHR users said their current system did not meet their needs
– 79% said they did not adequately assess their own needs before selecting an EHR vendor
– 77% said the design of their EHR system is not suited for their specialties
– 44% said their EHR vendor was unresponsive to their needs and requests
– 20% said their EHR system did not adequately communicate with other EHRs
This report comes on the heels of a February Level 3 Communications study, which indicates that EHR implementations are both the single biggest challenge and priority for healthcare CIOs in 2013.
CIOs are calling for an EHR that is powerful, easy to use, customizable and aesthetically pleasing. It should accelerate patient encounters, so doctors spend less time fighting technology and more time treating.
Looking forward, it’s also a good idea to consider how interoperable a particular EHR is with outside applications. A progressive EHR will gather information from multiple platforms, giving doctors more data and a better connection with their patients.
Need help shopping for a new EHR vendor? Check out our time-tested EHR Buying Guide.
Do you know what you need when setting up a new medical practice?