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What do I need to know before I search for money?

Implementing health IT, such as EHRs, in ambulatory care settings can be a very expensive undertaking. There are numerous costs in addition to the acquisition of the software system (for example, ongoing hardware and maintenance costs, costs of peripherals and networking). In addition to identifying all the costs associated with implementing a system, health centers should look critically at the cost and benefit of implementing a particular solution. The resources below provide guidance on the costs and potential benefits of implementing a clinical system.

Resources on EHR costs:

• Ambulatory EMR: Establishing a Business Case (PDF - 414 KB) - White paper developed by MedicaLogic provides a detailed business case for EMRs and cites examples of implementation and statistics on impact.
• Achieving Tangible IT Benefits in Small Practices (PDF - 371KB) - Prepared by First Consulting Group, this document provides case studies of small physician practices and the lessons learned and benefits realized in an implementation. Also provides tips on selecting and financing an EMR system. (2002)
• Purchasing an Affordable Electronic Health Record – American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP) article gives a brief overview of what to look for in an EHR system. (2005) 
• Vista EHR: Right Product, Right Price? - American College of Physicians article discusses the open source product, Vista, an electronic health record system. (2005) 

Resources on total cost of ownership (TCO):  

• Total Cost of EMR Ownership Tool  - AAFP article containing tips and a downloadable spreadsheet to assist in costing out an EMR system. (2002)
• Partners for Patients Electronic Health Record Market Survey (PDF - 1 MB) – American Academy of Physicians (AAP) Center for Health Information Technology Power Point presentation of their survey and the data captured. (2005)
• Understanding EHR Contracting and Pricing - Tutorial on the AAFP web site that suggests multiple resources for determining EHR contracting practices and costs.