A new framework for electronic health record (EHR) usability was issued last week. Developed by the AMA and an external advisory committee of practicing physicians and health IT experts, researchers and executives, the framework focuses on leveraging the potential of EHRs to enhance patient care, improve productivity and reduce administrative costs.
The release of eight solutions (log in) to address the challenges physicians face in using EHRs was well received by both the media and physician community. Here’s a summary of what these influential people are saying about the AMA’s EHR priorities.
“As Secretary of Health and Human Services, I saw firsthand the big picture challenges that this [poses]—and those issues the commenters are raising. Hopefully, the AMA’s efforts will help focus all of the relevant players in the health system to adopt seamless, effective EHRs that are as useful and as available as a patient’s bank accounts. This isn’t a cure-all, of course, but it is a welcome addition to the efforts to benefit patients.”
—Tommy G. Thompson, former governor of Wisconsin secretary of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS)
“We applaud the AMA for speaking out on this,” said Jacob Reider, MD, a family physician who formerly worked in EHR development. “It will take a few years before we will see an iPhone-like EMR. We’ll get there, but it’s primarily in the hands of the developers.”
—“AMA urges overhaul of electronic medical records,” The Wall Street Journal
“We support the AMA’s efforts to improve EHRs for the end user—the health care providers who use these products to treat their patients,” said Peter Ashkenaz, spokesman for the Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology at HHS.
—“Frustrated AMA pitches ‘action plan’ on digital records,” Washington Post
“The American Medical Association … has taken matters into its own hands, issuing an eight-point framework to impose EHR usability. AMA is willing to work with the agencies, but will no longer wait for the agencies to do the job and require improvements.”
—“The ‘faux’ MU flexibility rule: A ghost no matter what,” Marla Durben Hirsch, editor of Fierce EMR
“Timely and important. I am glad that the AMA is going to bat for this. We need them to be louder, clearer and more forceful.”
—Joe Flower, author and columnist for the American Hospital Association
