News Feature | June 10, 2015

Providers: EHRs Improve Analytics

Katie Wike

By Katie Wike, contributing writer

HIPAA-Compliant Tool Developed To Help Organize Data

A HIMSS Analytics analysis reveals many providers appreciate the analytics capabilities their EHR software brings to the table

HIMSS Analytics released 2015 Clinical and Business Intelligence Study, a report which found many providers use their EHRs for the data analytics capabilities. Those who use their software to analyze data reported a moderate level of satisfaction with analytics and reporting tools in their EHRs.

“Along with tremendous insights, the era of Big Data has also ushered in the need for healthcare organizations to become increasingly particular about what data they collect and how it is used,” explains HIMSS Analytics.

Health Data Management writes HIMSS surveyed 189 healthcare organization stakeholders, including nearly 80 who were at the manager, director or C-levels. iHealth Beat adds that, of the 52 percent who have adopted clinical and business intelligence solutions, 54 percent said they use their EHR for analytics. The report also found a 6 percentage point increase in businesses using analytics in 2015 (52 percent) compared to 2013 (46 percent).

Organizations have changed their focus from accountable care to population health over the last two years. Ten percent of respondents in 2015 said they had plans to purchase clinical and business intelligence tools in the future. Fifty-one percent of respondents said they were unsure about future plans to invest in clinical and business intelligence tools.

“As organizations determine which tools they need to make better clinical and financial decisions, it is a market in which demand is still evolving,” said Brendan FitzGerald, HIMSS Analytics Research Director told Morning eHealth.