EHRs remain a top challenge for group practices

Choosing and implementing an electronic health record is among the top concerns for medical group practices, according to a study from the Medical Group Management Association.

Respondents were asked how challenging they found selecting and implementing an EHR. Eleven percent said it was no challenge at all, 8 percent said it was a low challenge, 19 percent said it was a moderate challenge, 36 percent reported it as a considerable challenge, and 25 percent said it was an extreme challenge, according to the survey.

The 2009 and 2008 surveys found the same top three concerns: EHRs, operating costs that are rising more rapidly than revenues, and maintaining physician compensation levels in an environment of declining reimbursement.

MGMA also asked participants how the recession is affecting their medical group, and how they are responding. The top three answers were an increase in uninsured patients; improved billing and collections and/or denial management process; and decreased revenues.

MGMA received responses to the Web-based questionnaire from 2,077 members, which was a response rate of 13.4 percent.