A new study finds that the use of electronic health records may reduce paid malpractice settlements for physicians.

The study, which appeared in the November 24 issue of (italics) Archives of Internal Medicine, (end italics) shows a trend toward lower paid malpractice claims for physicians who are active users of EHR technology.

"There is broad consensus that electronic health records are an essential foundation for the delivery of high quality care. As electronic health record adoption proceeds as a national health policy objective, some have wondered whether EHRs can help to prevent medical malpractice claims," said Harvard University Assistant Professor Steven Simon, senior author of the paper.

The study examined survey responses from 1,140 practicing physicians in Massachusetts during 2005, focusing on demographic characteristics and the length and extent of EHR use. The investigators compared the presence or absence of malpractice claims among physicians with and without EHRs, including only claims that had been settled and paid.

The study found that 6.1 percent of physicians with EHRs and 10.8 percent of physicians without them had paid malpractice settlements in the preceding 10 years. The investigators, after controlling for potential confounding variables, found a trend favoring EHR use, although the results weren't statistically significant.