EHRs Essential to ACOs Part I

In continuing our discussion of Accountable Care Organizations (ACOs), over the next several posts we will discuss what will be an essential element in the operation and success of ACOs: Electronic Health Records (EHRs). EHRs are electronic versions of a patients medical history that are maintained by a provider over time. EHRs may include key administrative clinical data relevant to a patients care such as demographics, progress notes, problems, medications, vital signs, past medical history, immunizations, lab data, and radiology reportsto name a few. EHRs automate access to patient information and work to streamline a physician groups workflow. Most important to the future success of ACOs, EHRs support other care-related activities directly or indirectly through various interfaces that include evidence-based decision support, quality management, and outcomes reporting. Later on in our discussion of ACOs and EHRs, we will address exactly how these interfaces will play such a crucial role in the success of ACOs. However, in our next post, we will discuss the EHR incentive payment programs for physicians that were authorized in 2009. —Christopher L. McLean