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October 31, 2004

 
Free Computers Not Enough To Get Doctors Using Technology

Getting small physician’s offices to use computers and digital records is critical to improving health care and lowering its cost, but many remain reluctant. From InformationWeek:

When it comes to getting doctors to embrace computers, sometimes even free isn’t cheap enough, Leonard Schaeffer, chairman and CEO of WellPoint Health Networks Inc., has learned.

The health plan Wellpoint earlier this year provided $42 million worth of free PDAs or PCs to help entice doctors to adopt E-prescriptions or reduce paperwork by submitting claims electronically. Although WellPoint contracts with 25,000 doctors, only 19,000 physicians participated—one in four passed on the free gear. A big part of the problem is keeping the technology running, rather than the initial investment. Less than 25% of doctor offices “have any IT support at all,” says Schaeffer.

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posted by Kent 10:31 AM | |

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