Smooth Adoption of Electronic Health Records Requires More than Hardware and Software

by Tom Walsh

Patrick Barbier, M.D., runs a solo family practice in Newburyport that will be one of the first to “go live” with electronic health records (EHRs) this month as part of a much-anticipated pilot program. He and his two staffers are both enthused and apprehensive at the prospect of going paperless.

Massachusetts eHealth Collaborative President Micky Tripathi (inset), leads the nonprofit organization that coordinates EHR implementations like this one at Newburyport Family Practice.

“Everyone’s excited -- and a little frightened,” said Dr. Barbier. “I think it will help in the future, but I think it will be hard to get used to. There will be a learning curve. At the beginning, it will slow us down.”

Like most practices today, Dr. Barbier’s already has a computer for billing. He’s also done some e-prescribing. “But with this,” he said, “we’ll be hooked up to the hospital. We’ll be able to download lab work, x-rays. Everything will be right in the computer and it will make things much easier. I’ve been waiting for this for many years.”  more