Electronic medical records (EMRs) are the wave of the future – and the future is now! So why is the adoption of EMR software taking so much time to implement, even though they are a great way to help reduce costs, improve efficiency and increase revenue? As it turns out, the reasons why this process is taking so long are varied and depend on a number of factors.

When it comes to adopting EMRs, cost is obviously a major consideration for many physicians and healthcare facilities. Many doctors are waiting to take advantage of the funds that have been allocated for this purpose by the federal stimulus package in 2009, so until lawmakers define exactly what types of systems will qualify for the money, many doctors and healthcare facilities are reluctant to make a move.

Privacy concerns are yet another barrier that must be overcome before healthcare organizations will truly be able to tap into the power of patient-specific healthcare data. Despite the many advantages of EMRs, patients still want to retain control over their own medical histories, and no doctor’s office or hospital wants the legal mess (not to mention the bad PR) that could result from a breach of privacy. In July of 2009, the Health IT Standards Committee began to consider measures such as encryption, audits and access controls in an attempt to address these issues, but many physicians are still waiting for a definitive answer on how to handle this particular issue before moving ahead to adopt a digital recordkeeping system.

Although many physicians may still feel reluctant to dive in and begin researching the ins and outs of electronic medical records, all healthcare practitioners should become familiar with the issues surrounding this debate. As a nation, our financial records have been digital for so long that many of us can’t even remember a time when they were not kept on computers. Looking at it from this perspective, it truly seems unfathomable that our medical records are not held to the same standard.