Rising demand for cost containment and improved service in the health care field is fueling the growth of the EMR market, according to a new study—but given how fragmented the market is, health care practitioners who want to jump on board would be wise to have a trusted technology advisor guide them through the process.

The U.S. electronic medical records (EMR) market will reach the $6 billion mark by 2015—a significant growth rate of 18.1 percent from 2010 to 2015.

This information comes from a new study from MarketsandMarkets, a global research and consulting firm that studies the major market drivers, restraints, and opportunities of the EMR market by looking at components and end users.

According to the study, a rising demand for cost containment and improved service in the health care field is driving the growth of the EMR market, which should grow from $2,177 million in 2009 to $6,054 million in 2015. That’s an estimated compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 18.1 percent from 2010 to 2015.

Is it time for you to get on board with an EMR? Although large health care practices prefer on-site, client-server-based EMR systems, small health care practices are jumping on the EMR bandwagon too, with web-based EMR solutions or ASP models.

Still, the study notes that the U.S. EMR market is fragmented, with more than 1,000 players. With this many options available, it helps to have a trusted technology advisor guide you through the EMR selection and implementation process. Contact us if you require assistance.

Related materials: U.S. Electronic Medical Records (EMR) Market, 2010-2015 (Market Share, Winning Strategies and Adoption Trends)

Digital pen and paper technology can help physicians reach meaningful use more quickly, and only requires three things: a digital pen, digital paper that reads the input from the digital pen, and the software that pulls it all together.

The race to meaningful use is underway—and anyone who is participating should look into digitizing information that has been historically stored on paper. One way to do that is digital pen and paper technology.

Digital pen and paper technology digitizes information you write down, provided that you use a special pen and special paper. The benefit: You write as you normally would, but the information you write can be stored and accessed via your electronic medical record (EMR) system.

If you’re a physician on the road to meaningful use, you’ll want to explore this technology because it can reduce the number of things you need to change when implementing an EMR. That, in turn, will reduce your frustration—and get you up and running more quickly.

Interested? You’ll need three components: a digital pen, the software that prints the digital paper, and the digital paper that reads the input from the digital pen.

Here’s how it works. Your IT provider gives you software that lets you design and print your own forms—in other words, they look exactly like the forms you’re currently using. However, they will contain a subtle pattern of barely visible dots that can be read by the digital pen when you write. Although digital pens are larger than normal pens, they’re not so large that they’re hard to use, and they produce ink so you can see what you’re writing. Everything you write is then uploaded to your computer system—saving you time and improving accuracy.

EMRs don’t have to mean months of lost productivity and income—if you choose the right EMR. gloStream guarantees that you’ll be back to your full patient load within 15 days of gloEMR implementation, or you’ll get your money back.

Downtime is one of the main concerns of physicians reluctant to implement an electronic medical record (EMR). But that doesn’t have to be a concern, thanks to gloEMR.

According to an article in Healthcare IT News, one of the 10 barriers to EMR implementation is the fear of lost productivity. Many physicians believe that they will lose 25 percent of their productivity for three full months after EMR implementation. And who can afford that?

Fortunately, that doesn’t have to be the case. gloStream utilizes an innovative implementation process called gloStream Detailed Needs Analysis (gloDNA). During this process, gloStream gathers all of the information needed to create an ideal EMR or practice management solution for clients—who can be up in running in weeks, not months.

The result is a solution tailored to your needs. “Thanks to the functionality within gloEMR, I have the capability to see a healthy load of patients when I’m in the clinic and still finish all of my charts so that I can leave by 4:30pm,” says one gloStream client.

In fact, the gloDNA process is so successful that gloStream offers a money-back guarantee: If your practice isn’t back to its full patient load within 15 days of your glo-live date, gloStream will provide a refund for gloStream software and services.

In the past, analyses of the benefits of EMR implementation focused primarily on increased efficiency, improved patient care, and lower costs—but EMRs offer much more than that, according to a recent study by a health care IT leader.

Now there’s one more reason to implement an electronic medical record (EMR) system: They have compelling environmental effects, including the reduction of greenhouse gases.

According to a study by Kaiser Permanente published in the May issue of Health Affairs, EMRs could lower U.S. carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions by as much as 1.7 million tons.

The study began with a Kaiser Permanente analysis of how that health system, which serves more than 8.7 million members, helped the environment by operating the world’s largest private EMR, Kaiser Permanente HealthConnect. According to the analysis, Kaiser Permanente’s use of an EMR reduced paper use by 1,044 tons per year, and digitizing and archiving x-ray images and other scans reduced the use of toxic chemicals (including silver nitrate and hydroquinone) by 33.3 tons per year. Other compelling statistics: Filling prescriptions online reduced CO2 emissions by 7,000 tons, and reducing travel with virtual visits reduced CO2 emissions by 92,000 tons. The environmental savings were compelling even when energy use from the increase in personal computers was factored in.

From that analysis, Kaiser Permanente developed a model to evaluate the environmental impact of EMRs in general. That model looks at six categories of environmental impact within health care to examine those most directly related to EMRs. “As the country increases its meaningful use of HIT, we should consider other macro impacts as well,” said one Kaiser Permanente official.

Worried that you’ll be stranded by an EMR solution provider that isn’t in the business for the long haul? It’s a genuine concern: Many EMR providers are discontinuing their products and the support for those products, leaving physicians in the lurch. But gloEMR is here to stay.

An increasing number of EMR providers are discontinuing their products and the support for those products, leaving many physicians in the lurch. With gloEMR, you can rest assured:  We’re here to stay.

Many physicians who thought they were using reliable, long-lasting EMRs are feeling stranded because their EMR providers weren’t in the business for the long haul. Some EMR providers are going out of business; others are asking clients to upgrade to their newer solutions and pay a hefty upgrade fee.

Discontinuing a software solution and support for it without giving physicians an affordable and effective alternative has serious ramifications not only for physicians, but for their patients as well.

As a result, gloStream is committed to building all of its software on the Microsoft Office platform. Microsoft Office—a staple of the Microsoft software family—has been around for decades. Moreover, every year Microsoft spends billions of dollars on Office-related research and development, a sure sign that it will be around for many years to come.

When you invest in gloEMR, you know your EMR is here to stay, and that your data is safe and secure—not just when you buy our software, but years down the road. We believe so strongly in our product, we even make it easy for you to switch to another product. We store your data in Microsoft-based formats that are supported by thousands of technology partners worldwide, so if you decide to move that data to other applications, or even another EMR solution, you can do so.

To help physicians who are rethinking their current EMR, gloStream offers attractive discounts to practices that convert from other EMR software to gloEMR.

While many physicians believe return on investment (ROI) in health care technology is a figment of an overactive imagination, a growing body of evidence supports the conclusion that clinical applications increase efficiency, improve quality, and boost patient safety.

In his recent blog, “A Message to America’s Physicians: Purchasing EHR Technology A Shaky State of Affairs,” David Kibbe, MD, says that cost of purchase is not the primary barrier to EMR implementation – uncertainty is. But that doesn’t have to be the case.

To illustrate his point, Kibbe quoted Lawrence Summers, director of the White House’s National Economic Council. “If you as a business were considering buying a new boiler, and if you knew the price of energy was going to be high, you would buy one kind of boiler. If you knew the price of energy was going to be low, you’d buy another kind of boiler. If you didn’t know what the price of energy was going to be, but you thought you would know a year from now, you wouldn’t buy any boiler at all.”

According to Kibbe, what this means is that physicians who know their reimbursement rates will be high will buy one kind of EMR, while physicians who know their reimbursement rates will be low will buy another kind of EMR. On the other hand, physicians who don’t know what their reimbursement rates are going to be, but think they will know a year from now, won’t buy any EMR at all.

While there is certainly some logic to this, EMR implementation isn’t just about reimbursements. Certainly, reimbursements are important, especially for physicians in small practices. That’s because the amount they are paid per encounter by health plans, Medicare, and Medicaid are what determines how much money, net of expenses, they will have available for significant investments such as EMR technology.

But EMR technology can save you money in the long run. As with any technology there is an up-front cost, but the return on investment (ROI) increases with each year after implementation. While many believe ROI in health care technology is a figment of an overactive imagination, a growing body of evidence supports the conclusion that clinical applications increase efficiency, improve quality, and boost patient safety. That’s particularly true if you choose an EMR that can stand the test of time—so choose wisely, but choose soon.

More than 70 percent of office-based physicians are eligible for federal incentives but do not have a basic EMR, according to a recent study. However, that will likely change from 2013 through 2015, the final years of the HITECH bonus period, and as younger physicians begin practicing medicine.

Roughly 83 percent of office-based physicians could qualify for federal incentives for electronic medical records (EMR) implementation if they meet meaningful use criteria, according to a study published in Health Affairs.

The study—which used data from the 2007 and 2008 National Ambulatory Medical Care Survey to measure the use of EMRs by office-based physicians—found that some physicians would qualify for Medicare incentives, some for Medicaid incentives, and some for both. Eligibility was based on the number of Medicare and Medicaid patients seen.

Interesting data points from the study include:

• 70.5 percent of physicians are eligible for incentives, but do not have a basic EMR.

• 12.1 percent of physicians are eligible for incentives and already have a basic EMR.

• 14.6 percent of physicians are not eligible for incentives and do not have a basic EMR.

• 2.8 percent of physicians are not eligible for incentives and already have a basic EMR.

• Location matters: Midwest physicians were more likely to qualify, Western physicians less likely.

• Specialty matters: Psychiatrists are significantly less likely to use EMRs than other specialists.

• Practice type matters: Physicians in a solo practice and physicians in practices owned by a health maintenance organization (HMO) are less likely than those in larger practices to qualify for incentives and use EMRs.

While physicians may be slow to embrace EMRs, they won’t resist for long, according to Susan Dentzer, editor-in-chief of Health Affairs. Dentzer predicts more physicians will adopt EMRs from 2013 through 2015, in the final years of the HITECH bonus period. Moreover, as younger physicians begin practicing, the operating standard will likely change to using EMRs.

In our opinion, implementing sooner is better than implementing later. Contact us for more information about getting an EMR.

Why buy an EMR if you’re not going to use it? At gloStream, our proprietary, five-stage gloStream Detailed Needs Analysis (gloDNA) helps us gain a complete understanding of the way each practice functions—and act accordingly for better results.

According to industry statistics, 30 to 40 percent of electronic medical record (EMR) software is not used—but with the right EMR provider, that isn’t the case.

Choosing EMR software is just one part of the process of successfully transforming a practice from paper-based medical records to an EMR. It’s also crucial to have a complete understanding of the way each practice functions—and act accordingly for better results.

At gloStream, we call the process of gaining this understanding gloStream Detailed Needs Analysis (gloDNA). It consists of five stages:

Stage 1:  Practice Consult. We learn about your practice’s experiences, goals, and concerns when it comes to EMR implementation by asking a series of questions about your practice, its people, and its requirements.

Stage 2:  Practice Scan. We build on what we learn during Stage 1 by gathering quantitative data about your practice and its workflows. The result is an inventory of your specific technical and operational requirements and systems.

Stage 3:  Proposal. We provide you with a customized plan of action. It will include a clear picture of the technical, personnel, and financial requirements for successful EMR implementation.

Stage 4:  Protocol. We leverage feedback received during Stages 1 and 2 to successfully transition your practice from paper-based medical records to an EMR.

Stage 5:  Wellness. We ensure your practice’s health by providing ongoing support to address issues that may arise as you implement your EMR. We monitor the performance of your system and integrate your feedback.

gloDNA has enabled gloStream to achieve a 100 percent success rate with EMR implementation. In other words, every doctor who has purchased our software continues using it today.

To learn more about gloStream’s exclusive gloDNA process, call us at (877) 456-3671 or send an email to info@glostream.com.

More and more office-based physicians plan to implement EMRs and qualify for federal incentive payments, according to recent survey data released by the ONC. Moreover, 41 percent of doctors surveyed are planning to achieve meaningful use and take advantage of the incentive payments.

There has been a reversal in the low interest in electronic medical record (EMR) adoption seen in previous years.

This information comes from surveys commissioned by the Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology (ONC) and carried out in the course of regular annual surveillance by the American Hospital Association and the National Center for Health Statistics.

The survey data shows that significantly increasing numbers of primary care physicians have already adopted a basic EMR, rising from 19.8 percent in 2008 to 29.6 percent in 2010.

Although basic EMRs are a good starting point, physicians would need to further upgrade their systems to qualify for meaningful use incentive payments. But there’s good news there, too: According to the surveys, 41 percent of office-based physicians are planning to achieve meaningful use of certified EMR technology and take advantage of the incentive payments. The majority of those physicians responded that they would enroll during Stage 1 of the programs.

David Blumenthal, the national coordinator for health information technology, says leadership from the medical community and the federal government is responsible for the increase in EMR adoption rates.

EMRs provide measurable benefits for providers of all sizes, including small practices, according to a recent survey. Plus, the return on investment is high: According to researcher, it costs just $7,857 and takes just 130 hours to implement an EMR at a five-member practice.

In contrast to prior suggestions that electronic medical records (EMRs) may not benefit small health care providers, a new survey says there are measurable benefits for providers of all sizes.

To conduct the survey, current and past Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology (ONC) staff members looked 154 peer-reviewed articles written from 2007 to 2010.

In their paper “The Benefits of Health Information Technology: A Review of the Recent Literature Shows Predominantly Positive Results,” they report that 92 percent reached the conclusion that the use of health IT has an overall positive effect.

The survey also found evidence of emerging measurable benefits for small health care practices in addition to the large ones.

That may be because the return on investment is high. Case in point: Dr. Neil Fleming, vice president for health care research at Baylor Health Center System, says EHR implementation cost $7,857 per physician and takes 130 hours at a five-member practice.

The reason for the discrepancy with prior studies, says David Blumenthal, the national coordinator for health care IT, is that prior studies focused on the early years of EHR development when functionality was not as mature.

“Two salient aspects of this more recent synthesis are that it brings the literature up to date and extends it beyond the few large systems that were the source of most information on the record for health information technology, and looks at it in a much more representative set of provider settings,” Blumenthal said.

Related articles: New survey shows EHRs benefit even small providers