A survey of 1,000 adults conducted by GfK Roper and Practice Fusion reveals an overwhelming majority of Americans believe doctors using a computer system provide them with better care. An estimated $27 billion has been allocated to help the medical sector transition to Electronic Health Record (EHR) systems as part of the 2009 American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA). Because Practice Fusion is a free, web-based EHR, we address the two biggest hurdles to physician adoption: cost and usability.
“It’s 2011 and patients want their healthcare to reflect the fact we’re in the 21st century. They want to have prescriptions sent electronically, to receive email appointment reminders and to review past diagnoses and upcoming appointments online,” said Ryan Howard, CEO of Practice Fusion. “With Practice Fusion, doctors can provide the standard of care that patients expect today, improving the patient experience and preventing unnecessary medical errors.”
The Practice Fusion survey found no measurable change in the percentage of physicians reported by patients to be using a computer in 2010 vs. 2011. Although CDC reports have indicated increased adoption, 90 percent of physicians are still not using a complete EHR today.
Key facts:
• 49 percent of patients report their physician used an EHR during their last office visit (unchanged from report in February 2010).
• 78 percent of patients whose doctors used an EHR believe the computer system helps their doctor deliver better care.
• 38 percent of patients whose doctors use paper charts would like their doctor to “go digital.”
• EHRs improve primary care clinicians’ quality of care over 12 months, according to a study by the Society of General Internal Medicine.
• The CDC reports 10 percent of US physicians have systems that met the criteria of a fully functional EHR, an improvement from 7 percent in 2009.
Medical providers interested in making the switch to Electronic Health Records for free, can sign up online at practicefusion.com/go. The Practice Fusion EHR system includes charting, scheduling, e-prescribing, referral letters and other clinical features tailored to the small to mid-sized medical practice.
Practice Fusion EHR
Research Division
