BMJ  2005;330 (12 March), doi:10.1136/bmj.330.7491.0-f

Electronic health records reduce office visits

Using an electronic health records system reduced visits to doctors' offices in Colorado and the northwest United States. Garrido and colleagues (p 581) found that two years after electronic health records had been fully implemented, age adjusted rates of office visits had fallen by 9%. Age adjusted primary care visits decreased by 11% in both of the regions, and specialty care visits decreased by 5% in Colorado and 6% in the northwest. The quality of care was not affected, say the authors, and there was no concomitant increase in use of other services.

Credit: SIMON FRASER/SPL

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Relevant Article

Effect of electronic health records in ambulatory care: retrospective, serial, cross sectional study

Terhilda Garrido, Laura Jamieson, Yvonne Zhou, Andrew Wiesenthal, and Louise Liang
BMJ 2005 330: 581. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Rapid Responses:

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Will we need to take lawyers/advocates along to consultations in future?

susanne mccabe
bmj.com, 15 Mar 2005 [Full text]

Yes, Excellent Idea!

Oliver R Dearlove FRCA
bmj.com, 22 Mar 2005 [Full text]

The IT generation will find it less of a challenge maybe

susanne mccabe
bmj.com, 23 Mar 2005 [Full text]