Clinics Slow To Adopt Paperless Medical Records

President Obama believes one of the most effective ways to reduce health care costs is to go paperless. Children’s Mercy Hospital is one of a growing number of hospitals relying on electronic records, but recent studies found only nine percent of US hospitals and about 25 percent of doctor offices have gone to electronic records.

Everyone agrees that’s the trend but not everyone agrees it’ll save money and improve patient care.

Kansas City’s Internal Medicine Clinic moved to electronic medical records four years ago.

“We have everything, if we want to look at a lab, we push a button,” Dr. Marianne Hudgins said.

The administrative staff has shrunk by 5 and the clinic is adding a new doctor, but it’s patient quality that really impresses Dr. Hudgins. http://ping.fm/sTeqZ