Just 25% of physicians are "on target" to meet the meaningful use standards established under the federal stimulus package, according to a according to a study by the Deloitte Center for Health Solutions, National Journal reports (Sanger-Katz, National Journal, 2/22).
Under the 2009 federal economic stimulus package, health care providers who demonstrate meaningful use of certified electronic health records can qualify for Medicaid and Medicare incentive payments.
Researchers polled a random sample of 501 American Medical Association members. The study found that:
- About 66% of respondents use some form of EHR system to manage clinical information;
- Around two-thirds said they believe EHR systems can help improve care over the long term;
- No more than 20% provide scheduling or offer test results online, while just 6% use social media to communicate with patients;
- About 66% of physicians said upfront costs were their primary concern about adopting health IT systems, while 54% cited concerns about disrupting operations;
- 46% of single practices do not have EHR systems, compared with 22% of practices with between 10 and 49 full-time staff members;
- 39% of physicians in practices with 10 or more full-time staff members are not familiar with the new ICD-10 diagnosis and procedure codes, compared with 25% of those in single practices; and
- Only 21% of respondents said they do not expect to meet the October 2013 deadline for transitioning to ICD-10, but 62% said managing ICD-10 documentation is a "major concern" (Deloitte release, 2/21).