1096: Electronic medical record (EMR) systems and telemedicine services in United States MFM practices

Abstract

To characterize information technology (IT) platforms used by maternal-fetal medicine (MFM) practices in the USA. The Practice Management Division of SMFM administered the Operational Benchmarking Survey to MFM practices recruited by nationwide e-mail and social media solicitation. The online Survey, conducted in the Spring of 2019, comprised >120 questions examining aspects of MFM practice during calendar year 2018. Response data are summarized to provide benchmark information. 45 MFM practices participated, representing 26 USA states and 315 MFM providers. An electronic medical record (EMR) was used by 44 of the practices (98%). Ten different commercial EMRs were used, of which 5 were used by 84% of practices (Figure 1). Interface of the practice EMR to the hospital EHR was reported as Complete or Partial by all Epic users, a majority of Cerner users (3 of 4), and by less than half the users of the other systems. Practices reported that information technology (IT) infrastructure was maintained by a hospital (44%), practice or medical group (28%), contracted external vendor (9%), or a combination of these (18%). IT maintenance expenses were paid by hospital (38%), practice or medical group (55%), or a combination of sources (7%). Telehealth was used for patient evaluation and management visits (E&M) in 33% of practices and teleradiology or remote US reading in 44% (Table). We did not ask for names of commercial systems or platforms used for telemedicine services. Telehealth E&M visits were more common among Corporate-or-Independent practices than among Hospital-based-or-University practices (55% vs 16%, p=0.04, Chi squared test). These data provide a “snapshot” of IT platforms used by a sample of MFM practices. Utilization is generally similar among different types of practice. There is a need for better integration of practice EMRs to hospital EMRs.View Large Image Figure ViewerDownload Hi-res image Download (PPT)