Todd Zwillich

WASHINGTON — E-mail may be a convenient way to remind patients about routine health screening, but when it comes to mammograms, it's no more effective than the good old-fashioned postcard, according to researchers from the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn.

The clinic's primary care unit sent notices to more than 6,600 women over 40, reminding then to come in for a routine mammogram.

The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force recommends that women over 40 years of age receive a mammogram every 1–2 years.

Researchers found that the notices work: Women who had received reminders were significantly more likely to show up for routine screening than were those who had not received a notice. Add in immunizations, lipid screens, and other preventive services, and reminders raised the chances of being fully up-to-date by about 50%.

But e-mail was only marginally better than relying on “snail mail” to prompt a mammogram.

Of women who got their notice by computer, 72% came in for screening, versus 68% who got a postcard.

The difference was not statistically significant, Rajeev Chaudhry and his colleagues reported in a study presented at the annual symposium of the American Medical Informatics Association.

WASHINGTON — E-mail may be a convenient way to remind patients about routine health screening, but when it comes to mammograms, it's no more effective than the good old-fashioned postcard, according to researchers from the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn.

The clinic's primary care unit sent notices to more than 6,600 women over 40, reminding then to come in for a routine mammogram.

The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force recommends that women over 40 years of age receive a mammogram every 1–2 years.

Researchers found that the notices work: Women who had received reminders were significantly more likely to show up for routine screening than were those who had not received a notice. Add in immunizations, lipid screens, and other preventive services, and reminders raised the chances of being fully up-to-date by about 50%.

But e-mail was only marginally better than relying on “snail mail” to prompt a mammogram.

Of women who got their notice by computer, 72% came in for screening, versus 68% who got a postcard.

The difference was not statistically significant, Rajeev Chaudhry and his colleagues reported in a study presented at the annual symposium of the American Medical Informatics Association.

WASHINGTON — E-mail may be a convenient way to remind patients about routine health screening, but when it comes to mammograms, it's no more effective than the good old-fashioned postcard, according to researchers from the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn.

The clinic's primary care unit sent notices to more than 6,600 women over 40, reminding then to come in for a routine mammogram.

The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force recommends that women over 40 years of age receive a mammogram every 1–2 years.

Researchers found that the notices work: Women who had received reminders were significantly more likely to show up for routine screening than were those who had not received a notice. Add in immunizations, lipid screens, and other preventive services, and reminders raised the chances of being fully up-to-date by about 50%.

But e-mail was only marginally better than relying on “snail mail” to prompt a mammogram.

Of women who got their notice by computer, 72% came in for screening, versus 68% who got a postcard.

The difference was not statistically significant, Rajeev Chaudhry and his colleagues reported in a study presented at the annual symposium of the American Medical Informatics Association.

WASHINGTON — Electronic bar codes and radiofrequency microchips are all the rage in medical error prevention, but one research team thinks avoiding mistakes may be as easy as snapping a photo.

Researchers with the MedStar Health network here are experimenting with facial-capture software that they say could quickly and inexpensively help busy nurses and physicians avoid mistakes.

The software can pick human faces out of any photo image in less than a second. It's tied into a $120 Web camera mounted behind the nurse's triage desk, and anyone who approaches the desk automatically has his or her face captured. Nurses can permanently tie a patient's face to the corresponding electronic health record with one click.

Nurses “don't have to pick up a camera, they don't have to make them say cheese, they don't have to put them in a special location. All they have to do is click on the patient's face,” Dr. Michael Gillam, director of the Medical Media Lab at MedStar, said at the annual symposium of the American Medical Informatics Association.

MedStar researchers already developed a state-of-the art electronic health record system allowing doctors and nurses to view patients' full charts at a glance. The system, known as Axyzzi, was snapped up by Microsoft Corp. last July.

Now Dr. Gillam's team is hoping that the facial photo capture system can help avoid errors by capitalizing on humans' natural penchant for recognizing faces. “The problem with a bar code is that it's not human readable,” Dr. Gillam said in an interview.

MedStar developers say their software could be used to tack the right face to any medication order, blood product, or device before it goes into a patient.

“Anyone can look and see that that blood doesn't match, because that's not the right person,” Dr. Gillam said.

The Medical Media Lab tested the software prototype and found that it captured the faces of all 22 racially diverse adults who approached a MedStar triage desk. But the system has yet to be put it into practice to see if it really enhances patient safety.

Dr. Gillam said the automatic system could be especially useful in overwhelmed emergency departments. “Suddenly 30 patients show up … at one time from a bus accident. You can imagine trying to take each picture,” he said.

But as with most identity technology, privacy is a concern. After all, no one wants to have his or her face on permanent file simply for asking directions to the restroom. Dr. Gillam said that although the system would photograph all comers, images are quickly erased if nurses don't attach them to a medical record.

WASHINGTON — Electronic bar codes and radiofrequency microchips are all the rage in medical error prevention, but one research team thinks avoiding mistakes may be as easy as snapping a photo.

Researchers with the MedStar Health network here are experimenting with facial-capture software that they say could quickly and inexpensively help busy nurses and physicians avoid mistakes.

The software can pick human faces out of any photo image in less than a second. It's tied into a $120 Web camera mounted behind the nurse's triage desk, and anyone who approaches the desk automatically has his or her face captured. Nurses can permanently tie a patient's face to the corresponding electronic health record with one click.

Nurses “don't have to pick up a camera, they don't have to make them say cheese, they don't have to put them in a special location. All they have to do is click on the patient's face,” Dr. Michael Gillam, director of the Medical Media Lab at MedStar, said at the annual symposium of the American Medical Informatics Association.

MedStar researchers already developed a state-of-the art electronic health record system allowing doctors and nurses to view patients' full charts at a glance. The system, known as Axyzzi, was snapped up by Microsoft Corp. last July.

Now Dr. Gillam's team is hoping that the facial photo capture system can help avoid errors by capitalizing on humans' natural penchant for recognizing faces. “The problem with a bar code is that it's not human readable,” Dr. Gillam said in an interview.

MedStar developers say their software could be used to tack the right face to any medication order, blood product, or device before it goes into a patient.

“Anyone can look and see that that blood doesn't match, because that's not the right person,” Dr. Gillam said.

The Medical Media Lab tested the software prototype and found that it captured the faces of all 22 racially diverse adults who approached a MedStar triage desk. But the system has yet to be put it into practice to see if it really enhances patient safety.

Dr. Gillam said the automatic system could be especially useful in overwhelmed emergency departments. “Suddenly 30 patients show up … at one time from a bus accident. You can imagine trying to take each picture,” he said.

But as with most identity technology, privacy is a concern. After all, no one wants to have his or her face on permanent file simply for asking directions to the restroom. Dr. Gillam said that although the system would photograph all comers, images are quickly erased if nurses don't attach them to a medical record.

WASHINGTON — Electronic bar codes and radiofrequency microchips are all the rage in medical error prevention, but one research team thinks avoiding mistakes may be as easy as snapping a photo.

Researchers with the MedStar Health network here are experimenting with facial-capture software that they say could quickly and inexpensively help busy nurses and physicians avoid mistakes.

The software can pick human faces out of any photo image in less than a second. It's tied into a $120 Web camera mounted behind the nurse's triage desk, and anyone who approaches the desk automatically has his or her face captured. Nurses can permanently tie a patient's face to the corresponding electronic health record with one click.

Nurses “don't have to pick up a camera, they don't have to make them say cheese, they don't have to put them in a special location. All they have to do is click on the patient's face,” Dr. Michael Gillam, director of the Medical Media Lab at MedStar, said at the annual symposium of the American Medical Informatics Association.

MedStar researchers already developed a state-of-the art electronic health record system allowing doctors and nurses to view patients' full charts at a glance. The system, known as Axyzzi, was snapped up by Microsoft Corp. last July.

Now Dr. Gillam's team is hoping that the facial photo capture system can help avoid errors by capitalizing on humans' natural penchant for recognizing faces. “The problem with a bar code is that it's not human readable,” Dr. Gillam said in an interview.

MedStar developers say their software could be used to tack the right face to any medication order, blood product, or device before it goes into a patient.

“Anyone can look and see that that blood doesn't match, because that's not the right person,” Dr. Gillam said.

The Medical Media Lab tested the software prototype and found that it captured the faces of all 22 racially diverse adults who approached a MedStar triage desk. But the system has yet to be put it into practice to see if it really enhances patient safety.

Dr. Gillam said the automatic system could be especially useful in overwhelmed emergency departments. “Suddenly 30 patients show up … at one time from a bus accident. You can imagine trying to take each picture,” he said.

But as with most identity technology, privacy is a concern. After all, no one wants to have his or her face on permanent file simply for asking directions to the restroom. Dr. Gillam said that although the system would photograph all comers, images are quickly erased if nurses don't attach them to a medical record.

WASHINGTON — E-mail may be a convenient way to remind patients about routine health screening, but when it comes to mammograms, it's no more effective than the good old-fashioned postcard, according to researchers from the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn.

The clinic's primary care unit sent notices to more than 6,600 women over 40, reminding then to come in for a routine mammogram.

The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force recommends that women over 40 receive a mammogram every 1–2 years.

Researchers found that the notices work: Women who had received reminders were significantly more likely to show up for a routine screening than were those women who had not received a notice.

Add in immunizations, lipid screens, and other preventive services, and reminders raised the chances of being fully up-to-date by about 50%.

But e-mail was only marginally better than “snail mail” in prompting a mammogram.

Of women who got their notice by computer, 72% came in for screening, versus 68 % who got a postcard.

The difference was not statistically significant, Rajeev Chaudhry and his colleagues reported in a study presented at annual symposium of the American Medical Informatics Association.

WASHINGTON — E-mail may be a convenient way to remind patients about routine health screening, but when it comes to mammograms, it's no more effective than the good old-fashioned postcard, according to researchers from the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn.

The clinic's primary care unit sent notices to more than 6,600 women over 40, reminding then to come in for a routine mammogram.

The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force recommends that women over 40 receive a mammogram every 1–2 years.

Researchers found that the notices work: Women who had received reminders were significantly more likely to show up for a routine screening than were those women who had not received a notice.

Add in immunizations, lipid screens, and other preventive services, and reminders raised the chances of being fully up-to-date by about 50%.

But e-mail was only marginally better than “snail mail” in prompting a mammogram.

Of women who got their notice by computer, 72% came in for screening, versus 68 % who got a postcard.

The difference was not statistically significant, Rajeev Chaudhry and his colleagues reported in a study presented at annual symposium of the American Medical Informatics Association.

WASHINGTON — E-mail may be a convenient way to remind patients about routine health screening, but when it comes to mammograms, it's no more effective than the good old-fashioned postcard, according to researchers from the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn.

The clinic's primary care unit sent notices to more than 6,600 women over 40, reminding then to come in for a routine mammogram.

The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force recommends that women over 40 receive a mammogram every 1–2 years.

Researchers found that the notices work: Women who had received reminders were significantly more likely to show up for a routine screening than were those women who had not received a notice.

Add in immunizations, lipid screens, and other preventive services, and reminders raised the chances of being fully up-to-date by about 50%.

But e-mail was only marginally better than “snail mail” in prompting a mammogram.

Of women who got their notice by computer, 72% came in for screening, versus 68 % who got a postcard.

The difference was not statistically significant, Rajeev Chaudhry and his colleagues reported in a study presented at annual symposium of the American Medical Informatics Association.

WASHINGTON — A growing number of small medical practices are turning to electronic health records to help the office run more smoothly, but few are using them to directly improve patient care, according to findings from a small study presented at the annual symposium of the American Medical Informatics Association.

Christopher E. West, Ph.D., and his colleagues at the University of California, San Francisco, surveyed 30 doctors, nurses, and physicians' assistants working in solo or small group practices. They were working in 16 offices spread across 14 states.

All but one said they use the electronic health records system for documenting patient care at least 75% of the time, and half said they use it all the time.

At least 80% said they use the system most of the time for visit coding, writing prescriptions, or viewing lab results, Dr. West reported. That kind of “basic functionality” of electronic health records software seems to have largely replaced paper in those offices. But the researchers also found that offices were not as quick to adopt more advanced functions for improving patient care. Only 13% said they took advantage of functions capable of generating lists of patients in need of follow-up care. Only about one-quarter used features enabling patient self-management plans or doctor visit summaries.

Still, the study suggests that stubbornness may not be to blame. Half of respondents said their software came with adequate training, but the other half called their training fair or poor.

WASHINGTON — A growing number of small medical practices are turning to electronic health records to help the office run more smoothly, but few are using them to directly improve patient care, according to findings from a small study presented at the annual symposium of the American Medical Informatics Association.

Christopher E. West, Ph.D., and his colleagues at the University of California, San Francisco, surveyed 30 doctors, nurses, and physicians' assistants working in solo or small group practices. They were working in 16 offices spread across 14 states.

All but one said they use the electronic health records system for documenting patient care at least 75% of the time, and half said they use it all the time.

At least 80% said they use the system most of the time for visit coding, writing prescriptions, or viewing lab results, Dr. West reported. That kind of “basic functionality” of electronic health records software seems to have largely replaced paper in those offices. But the researchers also found that offices were not as quick to adopt more advanced functions for improving patient care. Only 13% said they took advantage of functions capable of generating lists of patients in need of follow-up care. Only about one-quarter used features enabling patient self-management plans or doctor visit summaries.

Still, the study suggests that stubbornness may not be to blame. Half of respondents said their software came with adequate training, but the other half called their training fair or poor.

WASHINGTON — A growing number of small medical practices are turning to electronic health records to help the office run more smoothly, but few are using them to directly improve patient care, according to findings from a small study presented at the annual symposium of the American Medical Informatics Association.

Christopher E. West, Ph.D., and his colleagues at the University of California, San Francisco, surveyed 30 doctors, nurses, and physicians' assistants working in solo or small group practices. They were working in 16 offices spread across 14 states.

All but one said they use the electronic health records system for documenting patient care at least 75% of the time, and half said they use it all the time.

At least 80% said they use the system most of the time for visit coding, writing prescriptions, or viewing lab results, Dr. West reported. That kind of “basic functionality” of electronic health records software seems to have largely replaced paper in those offices. But the researchers also found that offices were not as quick to adopt more advanced functions for improving patient care. Only 13% said they took advantage of functions capable of generating lists of patients in need of follow-up care. Only about one-quarter used features enabling patient self-management plans or doctor visit summaries.

Still, the study suggests that stubbornness may not be to blame. Half of respondents said their software came with adequate training, but the other half called their training fair or poor.

WASHINGTON — Electronic bar codes and radiofrequency microchips are all the rage in medical error prevention, but one research team thinks avoiding mistakes may be as easy as snapping a photo.

Researchers with the MedStar Health network here are experimenting with facial-capture software that they believe could quickly and inexpensively help busy nurses and physicians avoid mistakes.

The software can pick human faces out of any photo image in less than a second. It's tied into a $120 Web camera mounted behind the nurse's triage desk, and anyone who approaches the desk automatically has his or her face captured. Nurses can permanently tie a patient's face to the corresponding electronic health record with one click.

Nurses “don't have to pick up a camera, they don't have to make them say cheese, they don't have to put them in a special location. All they have to do is click on the patient's face,” Dr. Michael Gillam, director of the Medical Media Lab at MedStar, said at the annual symposium of the American Medical Informatics Association.

MedStar researchers already developed a state-of-the art electronic health record system allowing doctors and nurses to view patients' full charts at a glance. The system, known as Axyzzi, was snapped up by Microsoft Corp. in July.

Now Dr. Gillam's team is hoping that the facial photo capture system can help avoid errors by capitalizing on humans' natural penchant for recognizing faces.

“The problem with a bar code is that it's not human readable,” Dr. Gillam said in an interview.

MedStar developers say their software could be used to tack the right face to any medication order, blood product, or device before it goes into a patient.

“Anyone can look and see that that blood doesn't match, because that's not the right person,” Dr. Gillam said.

The Medical Media Lab tested the software prototype and found that it captured the smiling faces of all 22 racially diverse adults who approached a MedStar triage desk. But the system has yet to be put it into practice to see if it really enhances patient safety.

Dr. Gillam said the automatic system could be especially useful in overwhelmed emergency departments. “Suddenly 30 patients show up … at one time from a bus accident. You can imagine trying to take each picture,” he said.

But as with most identity technology, privacy is a concern. After all, no one wants to have his or her face on permanent file simply for asking directions to the rest room.

Dr. Gillam said that although the system would photograph all comers, images are quickly erased if nurses don't attach them to a medical record.

WASHINGTON — Electronic bar codes and radiofrequency microchips are all the rage in medical error prevention, but one research team thinks avoiding mistakes may be as easy as snapping a photo.

Researchers with the MedStar Health network here are experimenting with facial-capture software that they believe could quickly and inexpensively help busy nurses and physicians avoid mistakes.

The software can pick human faces out of any photo image in less than a second. It's tied into a $120 Web camera mounted behind the nurse's triage desk, and anyone who approaches the desk automatically has his or her face captured. Nurses can permanently tie a patient's face to the corresponding electronic health record with one click.

Nurses “don't have to pick up a camera, they don't have to make them say cheese, they don't have to put them in a special location. All they have to do is click on the patient's face,” Dr. Michael Gillam, director of the Medical Media Lab at MedStar, said at the annual symposium of the American Medical Informatics Association.

MedStar researchers already developed a state-of-the art electronic health record system allowing doctors and nurses to view patients' full charts at a glance. The system, known as Axyzzi, was snapped up by Microsoft Corp. in July.

Now Dr. Gillam's team is hoping that the facial photo capture system can help avoid errors by capitalizing on humans' natural penchant for recognizing faces.

“The problem with a bar code is that it's not human readable,” Dr. Gillam said in an interview.

MedStar developers say their software could be used to tack the right face to any medication order, blood product, or device before it goes into a patient.

“Anyone can look and see that that blood doesn't match, because that's not the right person,” Dr. Gillam said.

The Medical Media Lab tested the software prototype and found that it captured the smiling faces of all 22 racially diverse adults who approached a MedStar triage desk. But the system has yet to be put it into practice to see if it really enhances patient safety.

Dr. Gillam said the automatic system could be especially useful in overwhelmed emergency departments. “Suddenly 30 patients show up … at one time from a bus accident. You can imagine trying to take each picture,” he said.

But as with most identity technology, privacy is a concern. After all, no one wants to have his or her face on permanent file simply for asking directions to the rest room.

Dr. Gillam said that although the system would photograph all comers, images are quickly erased if nurses don't attach them to a medical record.

WASHINGTON — Electronic bar codes and radiofrequency microchips are all the rage in medical error prevention, but one research team thinks avoiding mistakes may be as easy as snapping a photo.

Researchers with the MedStar Health network here are experimenting with facial-capture software that they believe could quickly and inexpensively help busy nurses and physicians avoid mistakes.

The software can pick human faces out of any photo image in less than a second. It's tied into a $120 Web camera mounted behind the nurse's triage desk, and anyone who approaches the desk automatically has his or her face captured. Nurses can permanently tie a patient's face to the corresponding electronic health record with one click.

Nurses “don't have to pick up a camera, they don't have to make them say cheese, they don't have to put them in a special location. All they have to do is click on the patient's face,” Dr. Michael Gillam, director of the Medical Media Lab at MedStar, said at the annual symposium of the American Medical Informatics Association.

MedStar researchers already developed a state-of-the art electronic health record system allowing doctors and nurses to view patients' full charts at a glance. The system, known as Axyzzi, was snapped up by Microsoft Corp. in July.

Now Dr. Gillam's team is hoping that the facial photo capture system can help avoid errors by capitalizing on humans' natural penchant for recognizing faces.

“The problem with a bar code is that it's not human readable,” Dr. Gillam said in an interview.

MedStar developers say their software could be used to tack the right face to any medication order, blood product, or device before it goes into a patient.

“Anyone can look and see that that blood doesn't match, because that's not the right person,” Dr. Gillam said.

The Medical Media Lab tested the software prototype and found that it captured the smiling faces of all 22 racially diverse adults who approached a MedStar triage desk. But the system has yet to be put it into practice to see if it really enhances patient safety.

Dr. Gillam said the automatic system could be especially useful in overwhelmed emergency departments. “Suddenly 30 patients show up … at one time from a bus accident. You can imagine trying to take each picture,” he said.

But as with most identity technology, privacy is a concern. After all, no one wants to have his or her face on permanent file simply for asking directions to the rest room.

Dr. Gillam said that although the system would photograph all comers, images are quickly erased if nurses don't attach them to a medical record.

WASHINGTON — A growing number of small medical practices are turning to electronic health records to help the office run more smoothly, but few are using them to directly improve patient care, according to findings from a small study presented at the annual symposium of the American Medical Informatics Association.

Christopher E. West, Ph.D., and his colleagues at the University of California, San Francisco, surveyed 30 doctors, nurses, and physicians' assistants working in solo or small group practices. They were working in 16 offices spread across 14 states.

All but one said they use the electronic health records system for documenting patient care at least 75% of the time, and half said they use it all the time. At least 80% said they use the system most of the time for visit coding, writing prescriptions, or viewing lab results, Dr. West reported.

That kind of “basic functionality” of electronic health records software seems to have largely replaced paper in those offices, he said.

But the researchers also found that offices were not as quick to adopt more advanced functions for improving patient care.

Only 13% said they took advantage of functions capable of generating lists of patients in need of follow-up care. Only about one-quarter used features enabling patient self-management plans or doctor visit summaries.

“Doctors are still not using electronic health records for quality improvement,” Dr. West said.

Still, the study suggests that stubbornness may not be to blame.

Half of respondents said their software came with adequate training, but the other half called their training fair or poor.

WASHINGTON — A growing number of small medical practices are turning to electronic health records to help the office run more smoothly, but few are using them to directly improve patient care, according to findings from a small study presented at the annual symposium of the American Medical Informatics Association.

Christopher E. West, Ph.D., and his colleagues at the University of California, San Francisco, surveyed 30 doctors, nurses, and physicians' assistants working in solo or small group practices. They were working in 16 offices spread across 14 states.

All but one said they use the electronic health records system for documenting patient care at least 75% of the time, and half said they use it all the time. At least 80% said they use the system most of the time for visit coding, writing prescriptions, or viewing lab results, Dr. West reported.

That kind of “basic functionality” of electronic health records software seems to have largely replaced paper in those offices, he said.

But the researchers also found that offices were not as quick to adopt more advanced functions for improving patient care.

Only 13% said they took advantage of functions capable of generating lists of patients in need of follow-up care. Only about one-quarter used features enabling patient self-management plans or doctor visit summaries.

“Doctors are still not using electronic health records for quality improvement,” Dr. West said.

Still, the study suggests that stubbornness may not be to blame.

Half of respondents said their software came with adequate training, but the other half called their training fair or poor.

WASHINGTON — A growing number of small medical practices are turning to electronic health records to help the office run more smoothly, but few are using them to directly improve patient care, according to findings from a small study presented at the annual symposium of the American Medical Informatics Association.

Christopher E. West, Ph.D., and his colleagues at the University of California, San Francisco, surveyed 30 doctors, nurses, and physicians' assistants working in solo or small group practices. They were working in 16 offices spread across 14 states.

All but one said they use the electronic health records system for documenting patient care at least 75% of the time, and half said they use it all the time. At least 80% said they use the system most of the time for visit coding, writing prescriptions, or viewing lab results, Dr. West reported.

That kind of “basic functionality” of electronic health records software seems to have largely replaced paper in those offices, he said.

But the researchers also found that offices were not as quick to adopt more advanced functions for improving patient care.

Only 13% said they took advantage of functions capable of generating lists of patients in need of follow-up care. Only about one-quarter used features enabling patient self-management plans or doctor visit summaries.

“Doctors are still not using electronic health records for quality improvement,” Dr. West said.

Still, the study suggests that stubbornness may not be to blame.

Half of respondents said their software came with adequate training, but the other half called their training fair or poor.

WASHINGTON — A growing number of small medical practices are turning to electronic health records to help the office run more smoothly, but few are using them to directly improve patient care, according to findings from a small study presented at the annual symposium of the American Medical Informatics Association.

Christopher E. West, Ph.D., and his colleagues at the University of California, San Francisco, surveyed 30 doctors, nurses, and physicians' assistants working in solo or small group practices. They were working in 16 offices spread across 14 states.

All but one said they use the electronic health records system for documenting patient care at least 75% of the time, and half said they use it all the time. At least 80% said they use the system most of the time for visit coding, writing prescriptions, or viewing lab results, Dr. West reported.

That kind of “basic functionality” of electronic health records software seems to have largely replaced paper in those offices, he said.

But the researchers also found that offices were not as quick to adopt more advanced functions for improving patient care.

Only 13% said they took advantage of functions capable of generating lists of patients in need of follow-up care. Only about one-quarter used features enabling patient self-management plans or doctor visit summaries.

“Doctors are still not using electronic health records for quality improvement,” Dr. West said.

Still, the study suggests that stubbornness may not be to blame.

Half of respondents said their software came with adequate training, but the other half called their training fair or poor.

WASHINGTON — A growing number of small medical practices are turning to electronic health records to help the office run more smoothly, but few are using them to directly improve patient care, according to findings from a small study presented at the annual symposium of the American Medical Informatics Association.

Christopher E. West, Ph.D., and his colleagues at the University of California, San Francisco, surveyed 30 doctors, nurses, and physicians' assistants working in solo or small group practices. They were working in 16 offices spread across 14 states.

All but one said they use the electronic health records system for documenting patient care at least 75% of the time, and half said they use it all the time. At least 80% said they use the system most of the time for visit coding, writing prescriptions, or viewing lab results, Dr. West reported.

That kind of “basic functionality” of electronic health records software seems to have largely replaced paper in those offices, he said.

But the researchers also found that offices were not as quick to adopt more advanced functions for improving patient care.

Only 13% said they took advantage of functions capable of generating lists of patients in need of follow-up care. Only about one-quarter used features enabling patient self-management plans or doctor visit summaries.

“Doctors are still not using electronic health records for quality improvement,” Dr. West said.

Still, the study suggests that stubbornness may not be to blame.

Half of respondents said their software came with adequate training, but the other half called their training fair or poor.

WASHINGTON — A growing number of small medical practices are turning to electronic health records to help the office run more smoothly, but few are using them to directly improve patient care, according to findings from a small study presented at the annual symposium of the American Medical Informatics Association.

Christopher E. West, Ph.D., and his colleagues at the University of California, San Francisco, surveyed 30 doctors, nurses, and physicians' assistants working in solo or small group practices. They were working in 16 offices spread across 14 states.

All but one said they use the electronic health records system for documenting patient care at least 75% of the time, and half said they use it all the time. At least 80% said they use the system most of the time for visit coding, writing prescriptions, or viewing lab results, Dr. West reported.

That kind of “basic functionality” of electronic health records software seems to have largely replaced paper in those offices, he said.

But the researchers also found that offices were not as quick to adopt more advanced functions for improving patient care.

Only 13% said they took advantage of functions capable of generating lists of patients in need of follow-up care. Only about one-quarter used features enabling patient self-management plans or doctor visit summaries.

“Doctors are still not using electronic health records for quality improvement,” Dr. West said.

Still, the study suggests that stubbornness may not be to blame.

Half of respondents said their software came with adequate training, but the other half called their training fair or poor.

WASHINGTON — Electronic bar codes and radiofrequency microchips are all the rage in medical error prevention, but one research team thinks avoiding mistakes may be as easy as snapping a photo.

Researchers with the MedStar Health network here are experimenting with facial-capture software that they say could quickly and inexpensively help busy nurses and physicians avoid mistakes.

The software can pick human faces out of any photo image in less than a second. It's tied into a $120 Web camera mounted behind the nurse's triage desk, and anyone who approaches the desk automatically has his or her face captured.

Nurses “don't have to pick up a camera, they don't have to make them say cheese, they don't have to put them in a special location. All they have to do is click on the patient's face,” Dr. Michael Gillam, director of the Medical Media Lab at MedStar, said at the annual symposium of the American Medical Informatics Association. “The problem with a bar code is that it's not human readable,” Dr. Gillam said in an interview.

MedStar developers say their software could be used to tack the right face to any medication order, blood product, or device before it goes into a patient.

“Anyone can look and see that that blood doesn't match, because that's not the right person,” Dr. Gillam said.

The Medical Media Lab tested the software prototype and found that it captured the smiling faces of all 22 racially diverse adults who approached a MedStar triage desk. But the system has yet to be put it into practice to see if it really enhances patient safety.

Dr. Gillam said the automatic system could be especially useful in overwhelmed emergency departments. “Suddenly 30 patients show up … at one time from a bus accident. You can imagine trying to take each picture,” he said.

But as with most identity technology, privacy is a concern. After all, no one wants to have his or her face on permanent file simply for asking directions to the rest room. Dr. Gillam said that although the system would photograph all comers, images are quickly erased if nurses don't attach them to a medical record.

WASHINGTON — Electronic bar codes and radiofrequency microchips are all the rage in medical error prevention, but one research team thinks avoiding mistakes may be as easy as snapping a photo.

Researchers with the MedStar Health network here are experimenting with facial-capture software that they say could quickly and inexpensively help busy nurses and physicians avoid mistakes.

The software can pick human faces out of any photo image in less than a second. It's tied into a $120 Web camera mounted behind the nurse's triage desk, and anyone who approaches the desk automatically has his or her face captured.

Nurses “don't have to pick up a camera, they don't have to make them say cheese, they don't have to put them in a special location. All they have to do is click on the patient's face,” Dr. Michael Gillam, director of the Medical Media Lab at MedStar, said at the annual symposium of the American Medical Informatics Association. “The problem with a bar code is that it's not human readable,” Dr. Gillam said in an interview.

MedStar developers say their software could be used to tack the right face to any medication order, blood product, or device before it goes into a patient.

“Anyone can look and see that that blood doesn't match, because that's not the right person,” Dr. Gillam said.

The Medical Media Lab tested the software prototype and found that it captured the smiling faces of all 22 racially diverse adults who approached a MedStar triage desk. But the system has yet to be put it into practice to see if it really enhances patient safety.

Dr. Gillam said the automatic system could be especially useful in overwhelmed emergency departments. “Suddenly 30 patients show up … at one time from a bus accident. You can imagine trying to take each picture,” he said.

But as with most identity technology, privacy is a concern. After all, no one wants to have his or her face on permanent file simply for asking directions to the rest room. Dr. Gillam said that although the system would photograph all comers, images are quickly erased if nurses don't attach them to a medical record.

WASHINGTON — Electronic bar codes and radiofrequency microchips are all the rage in medical error prevention, but one research team thinks avoiding mistakes may be as easy as snapping a photo.

Researchers with the MedStar Health network here are experimenting with facial-capture software that they say could quickly and inexpensively help busy nurses and physicians avoid mistakes.

The software can pick human faces out of any photo image in less than a second. It's tied into a $120 Web camera mounted behind the nurse's triage desk, and anyone who approaches the desk automatically has his or her face captured.

Nurses “don't have to pick up a camera, they don't have to make them say cheese, they don't have to put them in a special location. All they have to do is click on the patient's face,” Dr. Michael Gillam, director of the Medical Media Lab at MedStar, said at the annual symposium of the American Medical Informatics Association. “The problem with a bar code is that it's not human readable,” Dr. Gillam said in an interview.

MedStar developers say their software could be used to tack the right face to any medication order, blood product, or device before it goes into a patient.

“Anyone can look and see that that blood doesn't match, because that's not the right person,” Dr. Gillam said.

The Medical Media Lab tested the software prototype and found that it captured the smiling faces of all 22 racially diverse adults who approached a MedStar triage desk. But the system has yet to be put it into practice to see if it really enhances patient safety.

Dr. Gillam said the automatic system could be especially useful in overwhelmed emergency departments. “Suddenly 30 patients show up … at one time from a bus accident. You can imagine trying to take each picture,” he said.

But as with most identity technology, privacy is a concern. After all, no one wants to have his or her face on permanent file simply for asking directions to the rest room. Dr. Gillam said that although the system would photograph all comers, images are quickly erased if nurses don't attach them to a medical record.

WASHINGTON—A growing number of small medical practices are turning to electronic health records to help the office run more smoothly, but few of these practices are using them to directly improve patient care, according to findings from a small study presented at the annual symposium of the American Medical Informatics Association.

Christopher E. West, Ph.D., and his colleagues at the University of California, San Francisco, surveyed 30 doctors, nurses, and physicians' assistants working in solo or small group practices. They were working in 16 offices spread across 14 states.

All but one said they use the electronic health records system for documenting patient care at least 75% of the time, and half said they use it all the time. At least 80% of the respondents said they use the system most of the time for visit coding, writing prescriptions, or viewing lab results, Dr. West reported.

That kind of “basic functionality” of electronic health records software seems to have largely replaced paper in those offices, he said.

But the researchers also found that offices were not as quick to adopt more advanced functions for improving patient care.

Only 13% said they took advantage of functions that can generate lists of patients in need of follow-up care. Only about one-quarter used features enabling patient self-management plans or doctor visit summaries.

“Doctors are still not using electronic health records for quality improvement,” Dr. West said.

Still, the study suggests that stubbornness may not be to blame.

Half of respondents said their software came with adequate training, but the other half called their training fair or poor.

WASHINGTON—A growing number of small medical practices are turning to electronic health records to help the office run more smoothly, but few of these practices are using them to directly improve patient care, according to findings from a small study presented at the annual symposium of the American Medical Informatics Association.

Christopher E. West, Ph.D., and his colleagues at the University of California, San Francisco, surveyed 30 doctors, nurses, and physicians' assistants working in solo or small group practices. They were working in 16 offices spread across 14 states.

All but one said they use the electronic health records system for documenting patient care at least 75% of the time, and half said they use it all the time. At least 80% of the respondents said they use the system most of the time for visit coding, writing prescriptions, or viewing lab results, Dr. West reported.

That kind of “basic functionality” of electronic health records software seems to have largely replaced paper in those offices, he said.

But the researchers also found that offices were not as quick to adopt more advanced functions for improving patient care.

Only 13% said they took advantage of functions that can generate lists of patients in need of follow-up care. Only about one-quarter used features enabling patient self-management plans or doctor visit summaries.

“Doctors are still not using electronic health records for quality improvement,” Dr. West said.

Still, the study suggests that stubbornness may not be to blame.

Half of respondents said their software came with adequate training, but the other half called their training fair or poor.

WASHINGTON—A growing number of small medical practices are turning to electronic health records to help the office run more smoothly, but few of these practices are using them to directly improve patient care, according to findings from a small study presented at the annual symposium of the American Medical Informatics Association.

Christopher E. West, Ph.D., and his colleagues at the University of California, San Francisco, surveyed 30 doctors, nurses, and physicians' assistants working in solo or small group practices. They were working in 16 offices spread across 14 states.

All but one said they use the electronic health records system for documenting patient care at least 75% of the time, and half said they use it all the time. At least 80% of the respondents said they use the system most of the time for visit coding, writing prescriptions, or viewing lab results, Dr. West reported.

That kind of “basic functionality” of electronic health records software seems to have largely replaced paper in those offices, he said.

But the researchers also found that offices were not as quick to adopt more advanced functions for improving patient care.

Only 13% said they took advantage of functions that can generate lists of patients in need of follow-up care. Only about one-quarter used features enabling patient self-management plans or doctor visit summaries.

“Doctors are still not using electronic health records for quality improvement,” Dr. West said.

Still, the study suggests that stubbornness may not be to blame.

Half of respondents said their software came with adequate training, but the other half called their training fair or poor.

WASHINGTON—A growing number of small medical practices are turning to electronic health record systems to help the office run more smoothly, but few are using them to directly improve patient care, according to findings from a small study presented at the annual symposium of the American Medical Informatics Association.

Christopher E. West, Ph.D., and his colleagues at the University of California, San Francisco, surveyed 30 doctors, nurses, and physicians' assistants working in solo or small group practices. They were working in 16 offices spread across 14 states.

All but one said they use the electronic health records system for documenting patient care at least 75% of the time, and half said they use it all the time. At least 80% said they use the system most of the time for visit coding, writing prescriptions, or viewing lab results, Dr. West reported.

That kind of "basic functionality" of electronic health records software seems to have largely replaced paper in those offices, he said.

But the researchers also found that offices were not as quick to adopt more advanced functions for improving patient care.

Only 13% said they took advantage of functions capable of generating lists of patients in need of follow-up care. Only about one-quarter used features enabling patient self-management plans or doctor visit summaries.

"Doctors are still not using electronic health records for quality improvement," Dr. West said.

Still, the study suggests that stubbornness may not be to blame.

Half of respondents said their software came with adequate training, but the other half called their training fair or poor.

WASHINGTON—A growing number of small medical practices are turning to electronic health record systems to help the office run more smoothly, but few are using them to directly improve patient care, according to findings from a small study presented at the annual symposium of the American Medical Informatics Association.

Christopher E. West, Ph.D., and his colleagues at the University of California, San Francisco, surveyed 30 doctors, nurses, and physicians' assistants working in solo or small group practices. They were working in 16 offices spread across 14 states.

All but one said they use the electronic health records system for documenting patient care at least 75% of the time, and half said they use it all the time. At least 80% said they use the system most of the time for visit coding, writing prescriptions, or viewing lab results, Dr. West reported.

That kind of "basic functionality" of electronic health records software seems to have largely replaced paper in those offices, he said.

But the researchers also found that offices were not as quick to adopt more advanced functions for improving patient care.

Only 13% said they took advantage of functions capable of generating lists of patients in need of follow-up care. Only about one-quarter used features enabling patient self-management plans or doctor visit summaries.

"Doctors are still not using electronic health records for quality improvement," Dr. West said.

Still, the study suggests that stubbornness may not be to blame.

Half of respondents said their software came with adequate training, but the other half called their training fair or poor.

WASHINGTON—A growing number of small medical practices are turning to electronic health record systems to help the office run more smoothly, but few are using them to directly improve patient care, according to findings from a small study presented at the annual symposium of the American Medical Informatics Association.

Christopher E. West, Ph.D., and his colleagues at the University of California, San Francisco, surveyed 30 doctors, nurses, and physicians' assistants working in solo or small group practices. They were working in 16 offices spread across 14 states.

All but one said they use the electronic health records system for documenting patient care at least 75% of the time, and half said they use it all the time. At least 80% said they use the system most of the time for visit coding, writing prescriptions, or viewing lab results, Dr. West reported.

That kind of "basic functionality" of electronic health records software seems to have largely replaced paper in those offices, he said.

But the researchers also found that offices were not as quick to adopt more advanced functions for improving patient care.

Only 13% said they took advantage of functions capable of generating lists of patients in need of follow-up care. Only about one-quarter used features enabling patient self-management plans or doctor visit summaries.

"Doctors are still not using electronic health records for quality improvement," Dr. West said.

Still, the study suggests that stubbornness may not be to blame.

Half of respondents said their software came with adequate training, but the other half called their training fair or poor.