Implementation of computer-based patient records in primary care: the societal health economic effects.

OBJECTIVE

Exploration of the societal health economic effects occurring during the first year after implementation of Computerised Patient Records (CPRs) at Primary Health Care (PHC) centres.

DESIGN

Comparative case studies of practice processes and their consequences one year after CPR implementation, using the constant comparison method. Application of transaction-cost analyses at a societal level on the results.

SETTING

Two urban PHC centres under a managed care contract in Ostergötland county, Sweden.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

Central implementation issues. First-year societal direct normal costs, direct unexpected costs, and indirect costs. Societal benefits.

RESULTS

The total societal effect of the CPR implementation was a cost of nearly 250,000 SEK (USD 37,000) per GP team. About 20% of the effect consisted of direct unexpected costs, accured from the reduction of practitioners' leisure time. The main issues in the implementation process were medical informatics knowledge and computer skills, adaptation of the human-computer interaction design to practice routines, and information access through the CPR.

CONCLUSIONS

The societal costs exceed the benefits during the first year after CPR implementation at the observed PHC centres. Early investments in requirements engineering and staff training may increase the efficiency. Exploitation of the CPR for disease prevention and clinical quality improvement is necessary to defend the investment in societal terms. The exact calculation of societal costs requires further analysis of the affected groups' willingness to pay.