EHRs don’t necessarily produce higher quality

A pair of recent studies has found that the computerization of medical practice doesn’t necessarily lead to better care.

An Archives of Internal Medicine study (Linder, et al.) looked at a cross-section of patient visits in 2003 and 2004, focusing on 17 quality indicators. On 14 of those measures, the researchers found, “there was no significant difference between visits with vs. without EHR use.” On two of the other indicators, performance of practices with EHR was better, and on one metric — prescribing of statins to patients with hypercholesterolemia — EHR users did significantly worse. continues…

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