Abstract
Federal policies have created incentives for the adoption and meaningful use of electronic health records (EHRs). While EHRs enhance documentation, make visits more efficient, reduce medication errors, and allow providers to track and manage their entire patient population, some physicians harbor reservations about potential unintended consequences of EHRs, including a possible increased risk of adverse events. Given the potential of EHRs to reduce adverse events and health care costs, the question of whether EHRs reduce the risk of malpractice lawsuits is a logical one. Malpractice claims are associated with harm to patients and are financially costly. Actual and feared malpractice claims may contribute to rising health care costs owing to the practice of “defensive medicine.”
Kats AM. The Relationship Between Electronic Health Records and Malpractice Claims. Arch Intern Med [Internet]. 2012 Jun 25;Published online. Available from: http://archinte.jamanetwork.com/article.aspx?doi=10.1001/archinternmed.2012.2371
