The Electronic Medical Records Role in Support of Smoking Cessation Activities

Conclusions: Generally, the use of more sophisticated EMRs were associated with improved smoking cessation support by physicians in the ambulatory environment. Physicians purchasing or upgrading an EMR system should include the smoking cessation support features as part of their requirements. Future stages in the federal government’s EMR Meaningful Use incentives and rewards program should include explicit metrics related to smoking cessation activities. Implications: The findings of this article contribute to current literature on EMR and smoking cessation by providing empirical evidence that advanced EMR systems with features like clinical reminders serve to influence the structure of the clinical encounter such that clinicians are significantly more likely to document smoking, engage in counseling, and prescribe medications. Physicians purchasing or upgrading an EMR system should include the smoking cessation support features as part of their requirements. Future stages in the federal government’s EMR Meaningful Use incentives and rewards program should include explicit metrics related to smoking cessation activities.
Source: Nicotine and Tobacco Research - Category: Addiction Authors: Tags: Original Investigation Source Type: research