RESTON, VA – The government's investment in electronic health records could result in a major payoff when it comes to boosting quality of care, according to new research of 500 primary care physicians.

The study, published in the New England Journal of Medicine, involved 46 practices that are partners in a region-wide collaborative known as Better Health Greater Cleveland (Better Health) and 27,000 adults with diabetes.

The study found that those in physician practices that used EHRs were significantly more likely to have healthcare and outcomes that align with accepted standards than those whose doctors rely on paper records. Improvements in care and outcomes over a three-year period also proved greater among patients in EHR-equipped practices.

Key findings included:

- Nearly 51 percent of patients in EHR practices received care that met all of the endorsed standards. Only 7 percent of patients at paper-based practices received this same level of care. After accounting for differences in patient characteristics, EHR patients still received 35 percent more of the care standards.

- Nearly 44 percent of patients in EHR practices met at least four of five outcome standards, while less than16 percent of patients at paper-based practices had comparable results. After accounting for patient differences, the adjusted gap was 15 percent greater for EHR practices.

- After accounting for patient differences, EHR practices had annual improvements in care that were 10 percent greater than paper-based practices as well as 4 percent greater annual improvements in outcomes.

- "We were not surprised by these results," said Randall D. Cebul, MD, a professor of medicine at Case Western Reserve University, and the study's lead author.

As important as electronic health records are, Cebul said, their greatest value emerges when used in conjunction with other approaches – such as the sharing of best practices and coaching offered through collaborations such as Better Health Greater Cleveland.

"These results support the expectation that federal support of electronic health records will generate quality-related returns on our investments," said David Blumenthal, MD, professor of medicine and healthcare policy at Harvard Medical School and former National Coordinator for Health Information Technology. "I am especially pleased that the benefits reported in this investigation spanned all insurance types, including Medicaid and uninsured patients, since it is essential that the modern information technologies improve care for all Americans, including our most vulnerable citizens."

"The results of this study support both the value of electronic health records and community-based partnerships to improve quality of care," added Carolyn Clancy, MD, director of the federal Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality.