Computerized patient records: current and future opportunities

Although computerized patient record (CPR) technology holds tangible promise for improvements in the quality of patient care, its penetration into physician practices has been slow at best. This article describes the operational and quality of care benefits of CPR implementation and the barriers to implementation. These include technology limitations, cultural factors, lack of standards, downtime fears, security and privacy concerns, and the lack of alignment of economic incentives. The article also provides non-radical approaches (i.e., simpler and cheaper) ways to harness technology to improve office efficiencies and patient care.