The process is also time consuming. Since primary care is seen as the custodian of healthcare, primary care physicians are most affected by the transitory effect of electronic documentation (Walker, 2005). They provide essential information to other healthcare professionals, such as medical specialists, and are the gatekeepers to the care of other patients. All of these factors impose on the time the doctor spends with each patient and also require that the majority of that time be spent entering data into the patient's electronic record. III. CostThere are also major costs associated with implementing electronic health records. Some costs are affected by acquiring the tools necessary for the transition process. They include, but are not limited to, costs for both hardware and software, appropriate personnel training, other equipment installation and configuration services, and other support personnel. The time spent setting up this type of system takes time away from patient care, which can reduce the amount of billable time which can further increase the expense of