A new study finds that the use of electronic health records may reduce paid malpractice settlements for physicians.
The study, which appeared in the November 24 issue of Archives of Internal Medicine, shows a trend toward lower paid malpractice claims for physicians who are active users of EHR technology.
"There is broad consensus that electronic health records are an essential foundation for the delivery of high quality care. As electronic health record adoption proceeds as a national health policy objective, some have wondered whether EHRs can help to prevent medical malpractice claims," said Harvard University Assistant Professor Steven Simon, senior author of the paper.
The study examined survey responses from 1,140 practicing physicians in Massachusetts during 2005, focusing on demographic characteristics and the length and extent of EHR use. The investigators compared the presence or absence of malpractice claims among physicians with and without EHRs, including only claims that had been settled and paid.
The study found that 6.1 percent of physicians with EHRs and 10.8 percent of physicians without them had paid malpractice settlements in the preceding 10 years. The investigators, after controlling for potential confounding variables, found a trend favoring EHR use, although the results weren't statistically significant.
In a secondary analysis among EHR adopters, the authors found that 5.7 percent of more active users of their systems had paid malpractice settlements, compared with 12.1 percent of less active users. The authors said the small numbers of physicians in both groups led them to interpret the results with caution.
The investigators speculate that EHRs may decrease paid malpractice claims for a number of reasons. EHRs offer easy access to patients' history, which may result in fewer diagnostic errors, improved follow-up of abnormal test results and better adherence to clinical guidelines. The clear documentation of care allowed by EHRs can also bolster legal defenses if a malpractice claim is filed.
According to the study authors, if this link between EHR use and lower malpractice payments is confirmed in further studies, malpractice insurers may offer lower premiums for practices that use EHRs, and there would be further incentive for physicians to invest in an EHR system for their offices. The federal government could also decide to offer subsidies for EHR adoption because they have been shown to reduce healthcare costs through a decrease in medical malpractice payments.
"The results of this study indicate that preventing medical malpractice claims may be another compelling reason for physicians, practices and policy makers to forge ahead with efforts toward universal adoption and optimal usage of electronic health records," said Simon.