Physicians' meaningful use of electronic health records: A transcendental phenomenological study

Despite incentives of the Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health Act to private practice physicians for the acceleration and meaningful use of Electronic Health Records (EHR), only 12% of physicians in the United States meaningfully use EHR. The purpose of the qualitative transcendental phenomenological study was to investigate physicians' lived experience with the meaningful use of EHR in private medical practices. The central research questions pertained to physicians' lived experiences and challenges with processes, procedures, and adaptive strategies pertaining to meaningful use of EHR. Thirteen physicians in private practice within New Jersey participated in interviews about their experiences with EHR in their practices. Moustakas' modified Van Kaam phenomenological method of data analysis led to six major themes. The first theme pertained to disappointment with the lack of interconnectivity and compatibility. The second theme was about costs from system upgrades, staffing needs, and reduced revenues. The third theme stemmed from physicians' reports of the excessive time investment of doctors and staff in EHR and meaningful use processes. The fourth theme pertained to unreasonable or irrelevant meaningful use criteria. The fifth theme stemmed from physicians' concerns about their demographic data collection for population medicine. The sixth theme was about how EHR provides streamlined, organized record keeping. Discussion of these findings occurred in light of the conceptual framework encompassing the Technology Acceptance Model and Diffusion of Innovation theory. The study culminated in recommendations for leadership and suggestions for future research.