EHR Interoperability Issues Challenge Primary Care Teams

What are some of the most substantial health IT issues that are hindering the healthcare field? A study published in the Journal of the American Medical Informatics Association found that EHR functionalities that lacked integrated care management software and care plans, weak practice registry and EHR interoperability, and meager capabilities for patient tracking have all led to significant challenges for primary care teams.

Researchers from Mathematica Policy Research in Cambridge, Mass., came together to determine how EHR systems are affecting teamwork among primary care practices. The study analyzed data from patient-centered medical homes (PCMHs) that were part of the National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA) 2011 program. [2014-10-15-Stethoscope-in-g]

Throughout the last decade, the federal government has placed more regulations on healthcare organizations and providers to improve patient-centric care, population health management, and patient data documentation. Both policymakers and providers have put more focus on sharing test results and patient records among medical facilities and improving health information exchange. Health IT initiatives can play a significant role in enhancing teamwork among primary care practices, which is why this study focused on the experiences of primary care teams from 27 PCMHs  among 17 states.