Most Americans are open to accessing EHRs through online patient portals, according to the results of Xerox's annual EHR survey. However, less than 720 hospitals have met CMS' meaningful use stage 2 requirements, which require at least 5 percent of patients to use secure portals.
The majority of people surveyed (64 percent) reported they do not use online patient portals. Among that group, 35 percent didn't even know patient portals existed. However, 57 percent of that majority reported they would take more interest in their personal healthcare if they had digital access to EHRs, according to the survey.
The survey also included the following findings:
- 31 percent of respondents who do not use online patient portals said they have not talked about the technology with their physician.
- 59 percent of those who do use portals reported greater interest in their own healthcare after using the technology.
- 83 percent of respondents ages 55 to 64 already use patient portals or would like to use patient portals to communicate with healthcare providers, making baby boomers the most eager group to utilize online patient portal communication.
- 70 percent of respondents ages 55 to 64 would use patient portals to schedule appointments, view test results (64 percent), ask physicians questions (60 percent), refill prescriptions (58 percent) or request a referral (40 percent).
- 57 percent of respondents ages 18 to 34 said they would most like to view their medical record with a patient portal, followed by personal health recommendations (44 percent), available services (44 percent) and health news (23 percent).
Harris Poll conducted the online survey of 2,017 adults, ages 18 and older.
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