Who benefits and who pays for the electronic health records? Patients may obtain better
health care, while payers benefit from lower costs. Providers pay greater costs to implement
health information technology, however, and may experience lower revenues after
implementation. Although large multispecialty practices or medical centers may benefit
from electronic health record systems, dermatologists—particularly those in dermatology
specialty groups or in solo practice—may be adequately served by document-management
systems that are less complex and less expensive. This article offers a perspective on
medical record documentation alternatives.
Semin Cutan Med Surg 27:86-88 © 2008 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Who benefits and who pays for the electronic health records? Patients may obtain better
health care, while payers benefit from lower costs. Providers pay greater costs to implement
health information technology, however, and may experience lower revenues after
implementation. Although large multispecialty practices or medical centers may benefit
from electronic health record systems, dermatologists—particularly those in dermatology
specialty groups or in solo practice—may be adequately served by document-management
systems that are less complex and less expensive. This article offers a perspective on
medical record documentation alternatives.
Semin Cutan Med Surg 27:86-88 © 2008 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.