Limited EHR Access To Lead Patients To Switch Providers?

As eligible hospitals and professionals in the EHR Incentive Programs already know, Stage 2 Meaningful Use ups the ante on patient engagement by requiring these providers to exceed certain thresholds for patient access to health information. But why should providers care about EHR patient access?

Well, if the results of a recent Accenture survey are any indication, a lack of patient access to electronic health information could lead to patients switch to providers...

Much of the impetus for patient access is the direct result of meaningful use, according to Kaveh Safavi MD., JD, Managing Director at Accenture North America. “The rise of Meaningful Use mandates and a growing trend of self-care among consumers is shifting the role of an EMR from a mere clinical repository to a platform for shared decision-making among consumers and doctors,” he said in a public statement...