HIMSS Analytics, the market research subsidiary of the Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society (HIMSS), has expanded its Electronic Medical Record Adoption Model (EMRAM) to include ambulatory healthcare facilities as well as hospitals.
The Ambulatory EMR Adoption Model (A-EMRAM) is currently tracking healthcare IT adoption in more than 28,000 ambulatory facilities in the HIMSS Analytics database that are part of a hospital or hospital system, such as physician practices, clinics, outpatient imaging centers, and specialty clinics.
Current data on A-EMRAM indicate that of the 9,247 ambulatory facilities now reporting data in the HIMSS Analytics database, none have reached the highest level (stage 7) and only 1.2% rank at stage 6. Slightly more than one-third, or 34%, are at stage 2. Almost half (48%) report that they still use traditional paper-based medical records.
In the U.S., more than 26% of healthcare expenditures related to ambulatory care, according to the U.S. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid services.
The A-EMRAM framework will also be deployed for use in Canada, Europe, the Middle East, and Asia.
