Medical Group Management Association: Profits better in electronic practices

Medical practices that have implemented an electronic health record (EHR) system report better financial performance than those that have not, according to a survey from the Medical Group Management Association (MGMA).

The results of the survey, "Electronic Health Records Impacts on Revenue, Costs, and Staffing: 2010 Report Based on 2009 Data" released at the organization's annual conference in October revealed that private practices collected $49,916 more total medical revenue after operating costs per full-time-equivalent physician than practices with paper medical records.

These practices also reported greater expenses ($105,591 per physician) but had $178,907 greater median revenue per physician than practices with paper medical records.