EHR use correlates with better care in ambulatory settings

Physicians using EHRs performed better than their paper-based peers on quality of care for four screening measures for diabetes, breast cancer, chlamydia and colorectal cancer, according to a study published in the current issue of the Journal of General Internal Medicine.

Researchers associated with Weill Cornell Medical College in New York City included 204 physicians using EHRs and 262 physicians using paper in a cross-sectional study that examined their performance across nine measures drawn from the Healthcare Effectiveness Data and Information Set. All physicians included in the study were members of the Fishkill, N.Y.-based Taconic Independent Practice Association, which serves the Hudson Valley region of New York.

After combining physicians’ performance on all measure into a composite score, researchers determined that EHR use was associated with a higher level of quality care. Physicians using EHRs performed especially well on measures for HbA1C testing, breast cancer screening, chlamydia screening and colorectal cancer screening. Among EHR users, 90 percent met the quality measure for HbA1c testing in diabetics compared to 84 percent of paper-based providers, 89 percent met the measure for breast cancer screening compared to 74 percent, 66 percent met the measure for chlamydia screening compared to 53 percent and 51 percent met the measure for colorectal cancer screening.

This is one of the first studies to find a positive correlation between quality of ambulatory care provided and EHR utilization, according to lead author Lisa M. Kern and her colleagues. “We found that EHR use is associated with higher quality ambulatory care. This finding occurred in a multi-payer community with concerted efforts to support EHR implementation. In contrast to several recent national and statewide studies, which found no effect of EHR use, the study’s finding is consistent with national efforts to promote meaningful use of EHRs.”