Many people are of the mindset that it is inevitable that an EHR will slow physicians down. They have heard enough stories to support that conclusion.

It is no wonder they are reluctant to move to this technology in their practice. The economic vitality of a practice turns on physician productivity. At a macro level, we are facing a severe physician shortage in the coming years, particularly with primary care providers. In light of that, it would be ludicrous public policy to advance an idea that reduced physician productivity.

So it was great news when I read the news of a recent MGMA study that shows fully and properly implemented EHR systems actually increase physician productivity and lower practice costs. Most of the practices in the study were not owned by big hospital systems, but independent private practices.

This has been the experience of our clients as well, but it has always been a hard message to get out because it seemed like we were shilling our services. Of course we are trying to sell what we do, but that does not mean the claim is false. Now there is another good, independent source to verify the claim.

A couple of things are worth noting:

• Not every practice gets fully or properly implemented. Many shortcut their implementation investment, get paired up with an incompetent implementation partner, or think implementation is only about making the software function technically. Productivity gains and cost reductions come when it is fully implemented and implemented the right way.
• There is a negative period during the implementation. All change is that way – things get worse before they get better. Don’t confuse what will happen during your implementation with what is possible if the EHR is a lever to really change how you practice.
• Which gets to the final point: The successful practices do not view this as implementing a piece of software. They view this as a tool for really changing how care gets delivered. During, and before, the implementation much work is done to simplify work processes. Information for decision making, clinical and business, is used in new ways. Roles are redefined using the system that allow physicians to spend more time, not less, working at the top of their license.

There are practices whose productivity dropped with their EHR, no doubt. But that is not the way it has to be.

Every other industry has eventually found IT to be a boost to productivity. It turns out we are not so different after all.