Survey Finds Half of Health Care Providers Now Use EHR System

Fifty percent of health care providers have adopted a “comprehensive” or “partial” electronic health record system, according to a report released on Thursday by CompTIA, an IT trade association, National Journal‘s “Tech Daily Dose” reports.

Under the 2009 economic stimulus package, health care providers who demonstrate “meaningful use” of certified EHRs can qualify for Medicaid and Medicare incentive payments.

The study surveyed 370 IT firms in the U.S., 40% of which are in the health care industry, and 300 U.S. health care providers. The results have a margin of error of plus or minus five percentage points.

Report Findings

According to the study:

• 34% of health care providers use a comprehensive EHR system;
• 16% reported using a partial EHR system;
• About 29% said they are evaluating their EHR options; and
• 20% said they had not looked at the issue.

EHR Satisfaction

Among health care providers who have adopted EHR systems:

• 59% said they were “completely” or “mostly” satisfied; and
• 36% said they were partly satisfied and partly dissatisfied.

According to the study, the reliability of EHR systems is the most reported complaint among health care providers (Gruenwald, “Tech Daily Dose,” National Journal, 10/28).

Health IT Spending

In the next 12 months, about half of health care practices will increase their IT expenditures, according to the study.

Health care providers who plan on making health IT purchases will seek new network equipment and tablet PCs that can give providers greater mobility, according to the study (Merrill, Healthcare IT News, 10/28).

Source: iHealthBeat