Study: Electronic Medical Records Reduces Malpractice Claims

In a recent study in the November 24, 2008 issue of the Archives of Internal Medicine indicates that electronic health records may help reduce hefty malpractice settlements for physicians and insurance companies.

The utilization of electronic medical records (EMR) has been in the news recently as President Barack Obama has laid out his plans to modernize health care.

The study, conducted by Harvard University researchers, shows that 6.1% of physicians with electronic records had malpractice settlements, compared to 10.8% of those without electronic records.

The researchers believe that electronic records decrease malpractice claims because they offer easy access to a patient's history, which leads to fewer errors, and clear documentation of care in the event of a legal battle.

The study also suggests that if the link between electronic health records and lower malpractice payments can be confirmed in other studies, insurers may even offer a lower premium to doctors who use electronic records.

See the Computerworld.com article here.