News Feature | February 2, 2016

80% Of HIT Users See EHR Benefits

Katie Wike

By Katie Wike, contributing writer

Patients Like Doctors Who email

The vast majority of health IT users say they have noticed increased quality performance thanks to their adoption of an EHR.

Results of the 2016 HIMSS Health Information Technology (IT) Value survey reveal more than 80 percent of organizations with an advanced EHR see positive results come from using it.

According to EHR Intelligence, HIMSS surveyed advanced EHR users who have been recognized as HIMSS Stage 6 or 7 users or Davies Award winners. They asked users to compare their experience to the HIMSS STEPS Model which measures health IT value on categories such as satisfaction, treatment/clinical outcomes, electronic information/data, patient engagement, and population management and savings.

iHealth Beat writes 88 percent of respondents cited at least one positive outcome as the result of EHR use and 83 percent reported benefits in clinical staff quality performance. Additionally, 80 percent of respondents who tracked savings from EHRs said they have seen positive savings. Sixty percent of all respondents have seen an increase in patient portal use and 50 percent of all respondents said their organizations have had a positive experience with interoperability.

Interestingly, 44 percent of nurses reported positive effects from EHRs, while just 29 percent of physicians reported benefits.

“This survey evaluates the progress the healthcare industry has made in deriving value from their health IT investments” said Pat Wise, Vice President of HIMSS. “The findings illustrate that although many challenges still exist, measuring the impact of the EHR on treatment and clinical areas is happening amongst healthcare innovators. This survey demonstrates that health IT is creating a positive shift within healthcare organizations, one that’s deriving quality care and improved outcomes.”