EHRs and PHRs

Friday, June 22, 2012

Hospitals Deploying EHR Systems, but Budgetary Concerns Still an Issue

Although hospitals are working to implement electronic health record systems, many hospital administrators say they are "only somewhat comfortable" with their organization's budget for EHR deployment, according to a poll from audit, tax and advisory firm KPMG, Healthcare IT News reports (Miliard, Healthcare IT News, 6/21).

The poll, which KPMG conducted as part of a May webcast, includes responses from more than 220 hospital and health system administrators (Hall, FierceHealthIT, 6/21).

According to the poll, 49% of surveyed hospital leaders said their institution is more than halfway finished with its EHR implementation. The poll also found that:

  • 48% of respondents said they are only somewhat comfortable with their organization's budget for EHR deployment (Healthcare IT News, 6/21).
  • 25% said they are very comfortable with their organization's EHR budget; and
  • 9% said they are not at all comfortable with their organization's EHR budget (FierceHealthIT, 6/21).

When asked about the types of strategies their organization is pursuing to complete EHR implementation:

  • 46% of survey respondents said their organization is using a multiple-resource strategy;
  • 16% said their organization is relying on existing staff;
  • 13% said their organization is hiring additional staff; and
  • 10% said their organization is using third-party assistance (Healthcare IT News, 6/21).



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