EHRs not sufficient to ensure success in value-based care

(HealthDay)—Electronic health records (EHRs) are not sufficient to ensure success in value-based care, according to an article published in Medical Economics.

Noting that many leaders of physician practices are concerned about transforming their practices to better manage care quality and cost, the core requirement for value-based care success, the authors discuss the shortcomings of EHRs in this respect. EHRs were built for a fee-for-service health care model and do not necessarily capture information needed to report for alternative payment models. In addition, EHR interoperability is poor and EHRs do not connect to emerging technologies or other systems, the authors write. EHR analytics are incomplete, and quality measure reporting is limited by unstructured or uncaptured clinical data. Patient portals do not represent patient engagement, while value-based care requirements need direct and interactive exchange with patients. Finally, EHRs cannot support the complexity needed for fee-for-value workflows.

To meet reporting requirements, improve operational efficiency, and increase revenue, according to the authors, practices should prioritize the following: data aggregation and analysis to allow a holistic patient view; care coordination and management to positively influence drivers of cost and quality; and revenue cycle management focusing on alternative payment models and risk.

"The EHR, so central during the Meaningful Use years, is becoming just one among many elements required to equip providers to understand and manage the cost and quality of their patients," the authors write.