Can EHR help with risk management?
There is evidence that use of electronic medical records can reduce the costs associated with tort claims and malpractice judgments. It is intuitive that if EHR improves patient safety through provider order entry and clinical decision support, fewer tort claims will result. Just as important is the fact that most malpractice claims, settlements, and judgments occur because the clinical documentation is inadequate to explain or justify the clinical decisions and care provided to the patient. Cases that go to trial tend to be those that are poorly documented. Private sector malpractice insurers often offer discounts to practices using electronic records because these practices have lower claim costs.
