Voluntary physician adoption of an inpatient electronic medical record by obstetrician-gynecologists.

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to review the utilization statistics for voluntary physician adoption of a comprehensive inpatient electronic record by community obstetrician-gynecologists. A retrospective analysis of administrative data on the utilization of a modern electronic medical record system in a private hospital setting was performed. The physician statistics for order entry and physician documentation pre- and postimplementation were compared. During the study period monthly hospital average was 268 discharges per month and 64.9 orders per discharge. Utilizing the prior stand alone order entry system, 38.7% of orders were directly entered by physicians, and, following implementation, this rose to 72.1% with phone/verbal orders reduced by 44.9%. Monthly transcription rates of history and physical, consultations, operative and discharge summary notes were reduced by 61.5%, 75.8%, 56.6%, and 88.2%, respectively, over the study time period. A well designed electronic medical record can be utilized in the voluntary private inpatient setting with significant physician adoption.