Statistics suggest that healthcare providers often do not use the Electronic Health Record systems (EHRs) installed in their healthcare facilities. They are unaware that this failure to comply will result in significant financial sanctions.

Universal adoption of Electronic Health Records has been designed to be implemented in a phased manner. These guidelines (approved by the Office of the National Coordinator) are compiled under the heading, “Meaningful Use Criteria” Failure to demonstrate compliance With Meaningful Use will result in a percentage of Medicare funds being withheld from hospitals and physicians.

While it is true that a significant number of healthcare facilities have not installed an EHR, many healthcare facilities have but are not using these systems properly or at all. Common reasons associated with this lack of use are: lack of training, the belief that workloads will be increased, and that there is no cost benefit to EHR use. The lack of proper training is the root cause of these mistaken beliefs.