Physicians and patients are in general agreement about health information technology priorities such as data-sharing and criteria for payment incentives, according to results of a new survey from the New York-based Markle Foundation.
“Doctors and patients agree on the importance of putting accurate information in their hands to improve the quality, safety and efficiency of healthcare,” Markle President Zoe Baird said in a written release.
The survey looked to gauge the opinions of the public and physicians about the deployment of health IT. Nearly three-quarters of participating physicians said they would like to be able to exchange patient information electronically. Additionally, about 80% of patients and physicians said data-sharing requirements were important for coordinating care and reducing the likelihood of medical errors.
“By the same overwhelming margin, four in five doctors and patients expressed the importance of privacy protections for online medical records, an expectation we have repeatedly found on the part of the public in our previous surveys,” said Dr. Carol Diamond, Markle’s managing director, in the release. “This survey is a powerful indication that the public and physicians alike want investments in health IT to come with accountability.”
