I’m really coming around on this fact. I’m not sure I should, but I am. I’m beginning to realize how big of an impact for good or bad that all this EMR stimulus money can have. Now, don’t get me wrong. I think long term there’s a lot of other benefits to EMR and I think there’s a strong case that can be made for implementing an EMR based on other EMR benefts. However, I’m starting to realize that to a large extent it is about the money.

Before the EMR stimulus came to the forefront of the EMR and HIT world, I would often be asked about EMR adoption and the trends that I’d seen in EMR adoption. I’d then start to describe that about 4 years ago when I started blogging about EMR, doctors and practices were asking the question “Should I implement EMR?” However, I’d seen a shift where doctors were now asking “how, what and which EMR should I implement?” To me this was a HUGE shift in perspectives and an important one for having widespread EMR adoption. Of course, this shift happened well before the government lit the EMR world on fire with $18 billion of EMR stimulus money.

What I’m now beginning to notice is that there’s a really strong opportunity to accelerate what was already happening. $44k per provider is a big deal for most practices interested in an EMR. The company and/or consultants that can find a simple way to gain access to this money are going to do very well and many EMR are going to be adopted during this time. I think it will be the proverbial straw that breaks the camel’s back for many many doctors.

Basically, I see many doctors who previously said I want to implement an EMR, but… Now saying I want to implement an EMR and I want the $44k, let’s make it happen.

My only words of caution. Don’t rush the process, but don’t waste time either. Take time to find the EMR that will work best for your clinic. There are good EMR out there that will get access to the EMR stimulus money. Make sure you get both a good EMR and the EMR stimulus money.