Electronic Health Records and Clinical Trials: An Incentive to Integrate

Electronic Health Records and Clinical Trials: An Incentive to Integrate

As we wait for the federal government to finalize important sections of the Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health Act (HITECH), there is a lot of talk about the financial incentives for implementing electronic health records (EHR). And understandably so. Practices that implement an EHR under the federal government’s guidelines stand to gain nearly $50,000 in incentives over the next five years.

A topic that hasn’t been as hotly discussed is using information gleaned from EHR software to participate in clinical trials. We think this should play a larger role in deciding whether or not a practice should purchase EHR software. Why? Participation in clinical trials has the potential to net a profit of hundreds of thousands of dollars per year. Now that’s an incentive to purchase an EHR.

While there are many factors that go into an EHR software purchase, we think clinical trial participation should get more consideration because:

•Participating in these trials is easier through an EHR than through traditional paper means;

•Using EHR data solves many of the major problems that clinical trials face; and,

•Purchasing an EHR creates a big ROI for physicians who decide to participate in clinical trials.

Using EHR data in clinical trials is a win for physicians, patients, the companies conducting clinical trials and the entire healthcare system.

Here’s why clinical trials should be a factor in purchasing EHR software.

EHR Software Facilitates Clinical Trial Participation

According to Synergyst Research, only 10% of licensed physicians participate in clinical trials. Why is participation so low?

Major reasons include the extra burden that research and information collection place on a practice’s time, staff and resources. Extra paperwork and onerous regulations are involved, not to mention training staff on how to properly complete forms and follow protocol. The average practice would find it difficult to find the time and resources to create a new department devoted to clinical trial participation.

Those using EHRs, however, stand a better chance of being able to adapt to the needs of a study. In the table below, we’ve identified ways that EHR software can make the clinical trial process faster, more efficient and more accurate

Read more: http://www.softwareadvice.com/articles/medical/medical-news/electronic-health-records-and-clinical-trials-an-incentive-to-integrate-1031910/#ixzz0qRUaku8c