Cebul, R.D., Love, T.E., Jain, A.K., & Hebert, C.J. (2011). Electronic Health Records and Quality of Diabetes Care. New England Journal of Medicine. Retrieved from http://healthpolicyandreform.nejm.org/?p=15235&query=home.

Incentives to increase adoption and meaningful use of electronic health records (EHRs) anticipate a quality-related financial return. However, empirical data showing either quality improvement or cost savings from EHR adoption are scarce. Available studies have shown few quality-related advantages of current EHR systems over traditional paper-based medical-record systems. Projected cost savings are mostly based on models with largely unsupported assumptions about adherence to and the effect of fully functional EHR systems. Data are particularly scarce on EHR adoption by “priority primary care providers” — health care professionals practicing in small groups and those serving vulnerable populations, as such providers are defined in the Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health (HITECH) Act. EHR adoption by such providers is supported by the national network of Health Information Technology Regional Extension Centers.