BACKGROUND: The electronic medical record (EMR)/electronic health record (EHR) is becoming an integral component of many primary-care outpatient practices. Before implementing an EMR/EHR system, primary-care practices should have an understanding of the potential benefits and limitations. OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to systematically review the recent literature around the impact of the EMR/EHR within primary-care outpatient practices. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Searches of Medline, EMBASE, CINAHL, ABI Inform, and Cochrane Library were conducted to identify articles published between January 1998 and January 2010. The gray literature and reference lists of included articles were also searched. 30 studies met inclusion criteria. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION: The EMR/EHR appears to have structural and process benefits, but the impact on clinical outcomes is less clear. Using Donabedian's framework, five articles focused on the impact on healthcare structure, 21 explored healthcare process issues, and four focused on health-related outcomes.
BACKGROUND: The electronic medical record (EMR)/electronic health record (EHR) is becoming an integral component of many primary-care outpatient practices. Before implementing an EMR/EHR system, primary-care practices should have an understanding of the potential benefits and limitations. OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to systematically review the recent literature around the impact of the EMR/EHR within primary-care outpatient practices. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Searches of Medline, EMBASE, CINAHL, ABI Inform, and Cochrane Library were conducted to identify articles published between January 1998 and January 2010. The gray literature and reference lists of included articles were also searched. 30 studies met inclusion criteria. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION: The EMR/EHR appears to have structural and process benefits, but the impact on clinical outcomes is less clear. Using Donabedian's framework, five articles focused on the impact on healthcare structure, 21 explored healthcare process issues, and four focused on health-related outcomes.
Authors: Catherine M DesRoches; Eric G Campbell; Sowmya R Rao; Karen Donelan; Timothy G Ferris; Ashish Jha; Rainu Kaushal; Douglas E Levy; Sara Rosenbaum; Alexandra E Shields; David Blumenthal Journal: N Engl J Med Date: 2008-06-18 Impact factor: 91.245
Authors: Robert El-Kareh; Tejal K Gandhi; Eric G Poon; Lisa P Newmark; Jonathan Ungar; Stuart Lipsitz; Thomas D Sequist Journal: J Gen Intern Med Date: 2009-04 Impact factor: 5.128
Authors: Christopher R Larrison; Xiaoling Xiang; Mara Gustafson; Michael R Lardiere; Neil Jordan Journal: J Behav Health Serv Res Date: 2018-01 Impact factor: 1.505
Authors: Yvonne Anisimowicz; Andrea E Bowes; Ashley E Thompson; Baukje Miedema; William E Hogg; Sabrina T Wong; Alan Katz; Fred Burge; Kris Aubrey-Bassler; Gregory S Yelland; Walter P Wodchis Journal: Can Fam Physician Date: 2017-05 Impact factor: 3.275
Authors: Alex H Krist; John W Beasley; Jesse C Crosson; David C Kibbe; Michael S Klinkman; Christoph U Lehmann; Chester H Fox; Jason M Mitchell; James W Mold; Wilson D Pace; Kevin A Peterson; Robert L Phillips; Robert Post; Jon Puro; Michael Raddock; Ray Simkus; Steven E Waldren Journal: J Am Med Inform Assoc Date: 2014-01-15 Impact factor: 4.497