A Comparative Study of Five Countries on Expanding Electronic Medical Record (EMR) Certification System - Focusing on Supports for Small Hospitals

Abstract

This study examined national efforts to expand the certified electronic medical record (EMR) among small hospitals in five countries: the United States, United Kingdom, Taiwan, Australia, and Canada. The results of this study showed that the five countries have commonly invested in substantial incentives and provided education to expand the certified EMR among small hospitals. Although each country had different backgrounds and procedures for the certified EMR expansion, the common goal was to establish an inter-operable EMR system. This study suggests that the Korean government should consider providing financial incentives to small hospitals and closely collaborating with the EMR vendors in order to facilitate the process of converting existing systems to the new certified systems. Also, it is needed to increase perceptions of small hospitals about benefits of using the certified EMR system.