Patients may view an electronic health record as in intrusion and distraction for the physician, but those problems will dissipate over time as physicians get used to using them, according to an article in U.S. News and World Report.
While privacy concerns remain regarding EHRs, the systems are undergoing an "evolution" and ultimately will enable providers to share data better and improve outcomes," the article states. Moreover, physicians are still adjusting to the systems and going through "growing pains;" as physicians become more comfortable with EHRs, they'll spend less time looking at the computer.
The article also notes that part of the difference in successful implementation by the physician practice depends on whether the physician's office adopted EHRs as part of its commitment to continuing quality improvement or has hastily implemented an EHR just because it believed it had to do so. Article