Easing the adoption and use of electronic health records in small practices

The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) of 2009 recognizes that to improve health through the use of electronic health records, smaller medical practices and those serving disadvantaged populations will need support. Some of this support is likely to come from Regional Health Information Technology Extension Centers, which offer technical assistance, guidance, and information on best practices. Such support programs already exist, and ARRA funding will influence how they spread. The National Committee for Quality Assurance surveyed these programs and convened a discussion among program leaders and users. We describe how programs address barriers to adopting electronic health records by assessing readiness, setting expectations, and helping with work-flow redesign. We also highlight challenges.