Association between electronic health records and health care utilization.

ABSTRACT:

Background

The federal government is investing approximately $20 billion in electronic health records (EHRs), in part to address escalating health care costs. However, empirical evidence that provider use of EHRs decreases health care costs is limited.

Objective

To determine any association between EHRs and health care utilization.

Methods

We conducted a cohort study (2008-2009) in the Hudson Valley, a multi-payer, multiprovider community in New York State. We included 328 primary care physicians in predominantly small practices (median practice size four primary care physicians), who were caring for 223,772 patients. Data from an independent practice association was used to determine adoption of EHRs. Claims data aggregated across five commercial health plans was use

SUBMITTER: Kaushal R 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4377559 | biostudies-literature | 2015

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature