Poor EHR use can become a liability issue

As more health care facilities implement EHRs, they take on risks that are unique to the new technology. Fail to use the EHR appropriately can result in a successful malpractice lawsuit, according to an article on the Physicians Practice website.

One of the key risks occurs when practices fail to adjust work flows to accommodate the new technology, Nancy Babbitt, a consultant with Babbitt & Associates, told Physicians Practice.

"Any time you're doing hand offs, whether it's lab results or transferring care from one clinician [to another] within the practice or outside of the practice, it's really important in those transition areas to look at your work flow design," she said in the article, adding that work flow problems could lead to missed lab or test results and other issues.

Babbitt recommends three ways to mitigate some of the risks associated with EHR use:

1. Redesign templates appropriately. 

2. Cut down on the number of templates. 

3. Encourage input from staff

Read the article.