Preview: HLM Intelligence Report on E-Health Systems

"We installed our clinic EMR five years ago. It is a continuous work in progress," says John R. Gardner, CEO of Yuma (CO) Hospital District and Clinics. "From the administration's point of view, we are now at a 'somewhat satisfied' point." Among the medical staff, however, opinions range from 'it's horrible' to 'it's wonderful.'"

Jim Cramer, vice president and CIO of the three-hospital Scottsdale (AZ) Healthcare, and the lead advisor for the Intelligence Report, says some of the ambivalence comes from the anxiety of using unproven software to operate the highly complex systems under real-world situations.

"The belief is that with more usage all the products and the solutions in the hospitals, as well as the solutions within physician office settings, will continue to evolve based on more and more clinician input," Cramer says. "In some respects there's no perfect solution. It's what the organization does with the solution that they select to make it work for them. The leading solutions that are out there will all continue to evolve; as more and more requirements relative to interoperability evolve, the robustness of the products will evolve, as well."

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