Health Insurance Daily

Electronic Health Data Can Reduce Costs

An emergency room setting with electronic health records can rein in health care spending, according to a study by MEDecision and Christiana Care Health System.

When ER doctors have easy access to a electronic records, the hospital can save an average of $545 for visits that resulted in admittance, the study shows.

MEDecision, a health care software company, and Christiana Care Health System, a Delaware health care provider, compared ER encounters where the medical staff at a trauma center had access to an EHR system with visits that relied on traditional paperwork in 2005. The ER team had electronic access to medical and pharmacy claims data on inpatient and outpatient visits that were supplied by medical providers who were outside of the hospital system.

The technology allowed for savings in laboratory testing, cardiac catheterization and medical and surgical supplies. However, further analysis in larger and diverse populations is required to confirm the absolute and component cost savings linked with electronic records, the study concludes.

“Health information exchange is a promising means for achieving important changes in our health care system,” says Dr. Henry DePhillips, chief medical officer at MEDecision. “We now have an economic value associated with openly sharing patient clinical data and delivering it to point of care.”

Information provided by Benefit News 2-8-07

posted by Mike @ 7:45 AM