Physicians and Electronic Health Records

Abstract

Background: Electronic health records (EHRs) allow for a variety of functions, ranging from visit documentation to laboratory test ordering, but little is known about physicians' actual use of these functions. Methods: We surveyed a random sample of 1884 physicians in Massachusetts by mail and assessed availability and use of EHR functions, predictors of use, and the relationships between EHR use and physicians' perceptions of medical practice. Results: A total of 1345 physicians responded to the survey (71.4% response rate), and 387 (28.8%) reported that their practice had adopted EHRs. More than 80% of physicians with EHRs reported having the ability to view laboratory reports (84.8%) and document visits electronically (84.0%), but considerably fewer reported being able to order laboratory tests electronically (46.8%) or transmit prescriptions to a pharmacy electronically (44.7%). Fewer than half of the physicians who had systems with clinical decision support, transmittal of electronic prescriptions, and radiology order entry actually used these functions most or all of the time. Compared with physicians who had not adopted EHRs, EHR users reported more positive views of the effects of computers on health care; there were no significant differences in these attitudes between high and low users of EHRs. Overall, about 1 in 4 physicians reported dissatisfaction with medical practice; there was no difference in this measure by EHR adoption or use. Conclusions: There is considerable variability in the functions available in EHRs and in the extent to which physicians use them. Future work should emphasize factors that affect the use of available functions.

Parent Satisfaction With the Electronic Medical Record in an Academic Pediatric Rheumatology Practice

“…In 2007, Simon et al surveyed a random sample of over 1000 physicians in Massachusetts and assessed physicians’ perceptions of the EMR in medical practice. They found that compared with physicians not using an EMR, physicians using an EMR reported greater patient-physician communication [10]. …”

Financial Incentives, Quality Improvement Programs, and the Adoption of Clinical Information Technology

“…33 The findings reported here can be interpreted as a glass half empty or half full with respect to efforts to improve the quality and efficiency of care through clinical information technology. Although only a minority of physician organizations in the United States possesses all the components of an electronic medical record, 5,6,34,35 many organizations have adopted selected capabilities and can access selected types of clinical information. These physician organizations seem to be postponing full adoption while using those data elements and capabilities most relevant to their immediate needs.…”

Training providers: beyond the basics of electronic health records

“…Despite the current high visibility of electronic health records (EHRs), many providers are unconvinced that EHRs will improve patient care and clinical outcomes [1-4]. In addition, many current providers received their medical education before information technology became ubiquitous, and are lacking both basic computer skills and the specific skills necessary to use an EHR effectively [1-3,5,6]. …”