Dive Brief:
- A new study published in the Annals of Internal Medicine concludes that doctors who practice in patient-centered medical homes and use EMRs typically provide more recommended care than those who don't work in these environments or use EMRs.
- The study, which used data from six insurers and the Taconic Health Information Network and Community, analyzed data for 143,000 patients getting care from 675 primary care providers between 2008 and 2010.
- The study concluded that primary care providers participating in the PCMH model improve the quality of care they provided over time at a much higher rate than those who weren't participating in PCMHs.
Dive Insight:
While both PCMHs and EMRs seem to improve PCPs' adherence to care guidelines, the highest quality improvements were associated with a combination of EMR use plus organizational changes. EMR use alone was not enough, the researchers said.