02 Feb Giving health care a dose of IT
Hospitals and medical clinics know they must invest in technology to improve patient safety, save money, boost efficiency and position themselves for the future, but few have done it because of the cost and complexity. Today, 13 percent of physicians use basic EMRs to store clinical notes, order prescriptions, and view lab and imaging results. Only 4 percent have fully functional systems that include clinical decision-support systems, according to a 2008 study by the New England Journal of Medicine. Adoption is on the rise, however: Sixteen percent have purchased EMR systems but have yet to install them; another 26 percent plan to buy a system in two years.
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