The study suggests that systems such as EHRs are an integral part of efforts to promote health care quality, patient safety, and efficiency.

“The EHR systems facilitate patient safety and quality improvement through: use of checklists, alerts, and predictive tools; embedded clinical guidelines that promote standardized, evidence-based practices; electronic prescribing and test-ordering that reduces errors and redundancy; and discrete data fields that foster use of performance dashboards and compliance reports. Faster, more accurate communication and streamlined processes have led to improved patient flow, fewer duplicative tests, faster responses to patient inquiries, redeployment of transcription and claims staff, more complete capture of charges, and federal incentive payments” p1

See the report: Using electronic health records to improve quality and efficiency: the experiences of leading hospitals. The Commonwealth Fund, July 2012.