Unexpected Effects of Electronic Medical Records; Differences in U.S. and Canadian Health Spending

ROCHESTER, NY (09/28/2010)(readMedia)-- Articles in the Summer 2010 issue of INQUIRY journal touch on topics such as medical records, medical spending, differences in children's Medicaid and CHIP participation, experiences with the Medicare Part D prescription drug benefit, community benefit and organizational success, plus an opinion piece on the implementation of health care reform. Details and links to abstracts follow.

"Electronic Medical Records and Cost Efficiency in Hospital Medical-Surgical Units," by Michael F. Furukawa, T.S. Raghu, and Benjamin B. M. Shao---This study used data from California hospitals and found none of the purported benefits of electronic medical record (EMR) systems on cost savings in hospital medical-surgical units. In fact, EMR implementation was associated with higher costs. The authors note, however, that hospital managers may trade off losses in cost efficiency for gains in quality of care.

"Medical Spending Differences in the United States and Canada: The Role of Prices, Procedures, and Administrative Expenses," by Alexis Pozen and David M. Cutler---This analysis found that Canada spent $1,589 less per capita on physicians and hospitals than the United States in 2002. The difference was most greatly attributable to administrative costs (39%), followed by incomes (31%) and more intensive provision of medical services (14%). Further research is needed to determine whether the additional U.S. spending was warranted or wasteful.

Also featured in the summer issue:

"Health Care When Workers Need It Most: Before and After Entry into the Social Security Disability Insurance Program," by Gina A. Livermore, David C. Stapleton, and Henry Claypool

"Rural and Urban Differences in Children's Medicaid and CHIP Participation," by Jennifer King, George M. Holmes, and Rebecca T. Slifkin

"Low-Income Medicare Beneficiaries and their Experiences with the Part D Prescription Drug Benefit," by Noemi V. Rudolph and Melissa A. Montgomery

"Dialogue---Community Benefit: Overcoming Organizational Barriers and Laying the Foundation for Success," with participants Eileen Barsi, Diane Jones, DawnMarie Kotsonis, Monica Lowell, Carol Paret, and Bruce McPherson

"The View from Here---Now for the REALLY Hard Part: Implementing Health Reform," by Alan C. Monheit

- 30 -

INQUIRY, the journal of health care organization, provision, and financing, is in its 47th year. The nonprofit Excellus Health Plan, Inc., publishes INQUIRY; the journal maintains a freelance editorial staff and is run as an independent, peer-reviewed, quarterly academic journal. Press releases and article abstracts are available on the INQUIRY website at www.inquiryjournal.org under "Current Issue Table of Contents."