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Summer 2008

Volume 1, Number 3

Not Many Physicians Are Using Electronic Medical Records

OVERVIEW

A recent report published online in the New England Journal of Medicine indicates that fewer than one in five physicians in the U.S. have started using electronic medical records. In fact, only four percent of the physicians surveyed have a fully-functional electronic medical records system, despite the fact that those who use electronic medical records say overwhelmingly that such records have improved the quality and timeliness of care. The slow adoption of this technology is primarily economic since most doctors in private practice do not have the financial incentive to invest in costly computerized record systems. The time and energy it takes to convert from paper to computer records is also a factor.

ABOUT THE STUDY

In late 2007 and early 2008, a government-sponsored survey of 2,758 physicians was conducted to determined the proportion of physicians who were using electronic medical records in an office setting and the relationship between adoption and the characteristics of individual physicians and their practices.

SUMMARY OF RESULTS

Four percent of respondents reported having a fully functional electronic-records system and 13 percent reported having a basic system. Of the small number of respondents who had a fully functional system, 71 percent reported that their system was integrated with the electronic system at the hospital where they admit patients, as compared with only 56 percent of respondents with a basic system.

Among the 83 percent of respondents who did not have electronic health records, 16 percent reported that their practice had purchased but not yet implemented such a system at the time of the survey. An additional 26 percent of respondents said that their practice intended to purchase an electronic-records system within the next two years.

The study concluded that physicians who use electronic medical records believe such systems improve the quality of care and are generally satisfied with the systems. However, as of early 2008, electronic systems had been adopted by only a small minority of U.S. physicians, who may differ from later adopters of these systems.

Among larger practices with 50 or more physicians, 51 percent used electronic medical records. Electronic medical records are particularly pervasive in large integrated medical groups like Kaiser Permanente, the Mayo Clinic, the Cleveland Clinic, and others who have deep pockets. For smaller practices, the initial cost of upgrading the office’s personal computers, buying new software, and obtaining technical support may be $15,000 to $20,000 per doctor. back to top

Report published online on June 18, 2008 in The New England Journal of Medicine (www.nejm.org)

News 1308.3.1