Many providers have complained about the meaningful use provision that requires doctors to provide patients with access to their medical records. The thinking is that tying physician incentives to patient behavior is unfair.

Electronic health record systems may be able to help doctors limit the number of CT scans they order for patients complaining of abdominal pain, according to a new study.

When working toward EHR implementation, physicians should not overlook the importance of data security. A new guide from the Office of the National Coordinator for Health IT is seeking to remind medical professionals of this fact.

Few doctors took typing classes while they were in medical school. So how is a less computer-savvy doctor to avoid being slowed down by entering data into their EHR?

Physicians' use of EHRs hit new heights in 2011, marking major progress over previous years, but wide variations persist in adoption rates among states, according to a new report from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation.

EHR adoption rates are up, as a growing number of physicians are implementing the technology in order to pursue government incentives.

EHR implementation rates remain higher among mid-sized medical offices, according to a new study published in the journal Health Affairs.

When it comes to selecting the right EHR vendor, practices should consider the ability of a given company to meet their unique needs. Often, this leads to more successful implementation than simply choosing the least expensive vendor.

When it comes to selecting the right EHR vendor, practices should consider the ability of a given company to meet their unique needs. Often, this leads to more successful implementation than simply choosing the least expensive vendor.

Despite the fact that many healthcare providers are well on their way to completing EHR implementation, many do not feel confident about their organization's ability to meet all of the requirements of the meaningful use program, according to a new survey.

Electronic health records and other health IT tools could play important roles in minimizing the impact of healthcare-acquired infections, states a new plan released by the Department of Health and Human Services.

Leveraging the data collected through electronic health records to make smarter, evidence-based treatment decisions could play an important role in reforming the current U.S. healthcare system to make it more efficient and effective, according to a new report.

Healthcare providers that have completed EHR implementation and are using their systems for more advanced functions tend to be ranked highly in terms of quality and efficiency, according to a new report from HIMSS Analytics.

In a sign that support for EHR initiatives is likely to stay strong, the health IT industry experienced major growth in venture capital funding in the first business quarter of 2012, according to a new report.

Qualifying for meaningful use incentives may be the top reason why many healthcare organizations are implementing electronic health records, but one expert says this should not be a practice's sole consideration.

Developing a single set of EHR standards for industry-wide use has been a challenging project. However, one expert says the nation has made great strides in this direction in recent years, and he expects the progress to continue.

As more physicians adopt electronic health records, the amount of health data generated is increasing at a rapid rate. Doctors' primary concern at the moment may be what to do with all this information.

Preventive medicine is increasingly being seen as a key method for lowering healthcare costs and improving treatment outcomes. Growing evidence suggests that electronic health records may play a central role in the delivery of important preventive services.

In order to encourage patients to make smarter decisions about their care, patients will need to become more involved. Experts say that electronic health records systems may play a key role in enhancing patient-provider communication and getting people more involved in their own care.

Some physicians have complained that the meaningful use requirements are more geared toward primary care physicians and include few provisions that are relevant to diverse specialties.

Implementing an EHR system shouldn't be just about qualifying for incentive payments. Experts say the technology will eventually lead to major improvements in care quality and lower costs.

Many physicians and health IT commentators have spent much of the last couple years focused entirely on meaningful use. To be sure, this is a formative program that demands plenty of attention from all stakeholders.

EHR implementation can be an involved process that requires time from physicians. However, this does not necessarily mean that the technology initiative will impact a practice's productivity.

The adoption of electronic health records accelerated toward the end of last year, and experts say they expect this momentum to continue throughout the remainder of 2012, as more small practices get set to implement systems.

Qualifying for the government's meaningful use incentive program can be a difficult task for less tech-savvy physicians. However, it is important for doctors working toward EHR implementation to remember that they are not alone in their efforts.