On the Prioritization of Electronic Health Records
July 22, 2012
It looks like the medical information revolution is proceeding a little slower than some of us would like, we can see from eWeek’s “U.S. News Tracks ‘Meaningful Use’ in ‘Most Connected Hospital’ Rankings.” The article starts out with good news, quoting U.S. News’ editor Steve Sternberg as stating, “The hospitals on the ‘Most Connected’ list this year lead all others in making the transition to fully integrated EHR’s [electronic health records].” Great!
There were a couple of criteria for facilities to be considered for the “Most Connected” list: First, they had to meet the federal government’s guidelines on “meaningful use” of electronic health records (EHRs) by July 10. So far so good. They also had to appear in either the U.S. News “Best Hospitals” and/or “Best Children’s Hospitals” list or be considered “high-performing” in at least one medical specialty. We have no problem with including that criteria for appearance on the “Most Connected” list.
However, consider the creation of that “Best Hospitals” list itself. Weren’t electronic health records supposed to be a key part of modernizing and improving care? We thought so, but that criteria didn’t even make it into the ranking factors for that particular list. Writer Brian T. Horowitz notes:
“‘Hospitals’ adoptions of EHR’s isn’t a factor in the Best Hospitals 2012-13 rankings,’ U.S. News reported. ‘That’s because EHR usage, while booming, hasn’t been proven to consistently advance patient care.’
“Although they haven’t ‘consistently’ advanced care, EHR’s could make patients safer and care more efficient, U.S. News added.”
Why yes, yes they could. Every hospital should be using them, and we feel it should be a basic qualification for a facility to be named one of the finest on any list. Oh, well, maybe next year.
Cynthia Murrell, July 22, 2012
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