Contributor: Roy Massie

Recently, the Department of Health and Human Services issued a rule that providers do not have to achieve meaningful use of Electronic Health Records in order to participate in an Accountable Care Organization. Providers have strong incentives to implement EHR, but they are not required in order to be in an ACO network. Along with their EHR incentives, providers have a lot of other technology hurdles in front of them (e.g. 5010/ICD-10). At my doctor’s office, I see some new information technology use at the front desk and occasionally in the exam room. But moreover, I still see rows and rows of color-coded paper folders holding patient records, stacks of folders in a daily queue and paper exchanging hands for receipts, scripts and other key transactions. In healthcare, as in most parts of our society, paper is an old and dying king, but it is still king.... read more