In a recent survey, smaller majorities of physicians identified benefits of electronic health records than the same survey a year before, according to a release from athenahealth.
In the survey, by athenahealth and the online physician community Sermo, 64 percent of physicians said the financial benefits of EHR outweighed the costs, down from 71 percent last year, and 68 percent said the patient-care benefits justified the financial investment, down from 73 percent last year.
In addition, more physicians said EHRs slow them down during patient exams (60 percent in 2011 versus 54 percent in 2010) and don't achieve measurable financial impact (39 percent in 2011 versus 33 percent in 2010). About the same proportion, just over 70 percent in both years, said EHRs require effort to stay current with federal requirements or incentives
However, physicians' overall opinion of EHRs held steady from 2010 to 2011, with 77 percent reporting a favorable view of them and 75 percent saying they believe EHRs can improve care.
Read the athenahealth release on EHR.
Read more coverage of EMR adoption:
- 53% of Healthcare IT Executives Cite Physician Adoption as the Greatest Challenge
- CDC To Survey Physicians' Opinions of EHRs, Impact on Healthcare
- Surveys Reveal Surging Interest in Healthcare IT by Investors, Providers
In the survey, by athenahealth and the online physician community Sermo, 64 percent of physicians said the financial benefits of EHR outweighed the costs, down from 71 percent last year, and 68 percent said the patient-care benefits justified the financial investment, down from 73 percent last year.
In addition, more physicians said EHRs slow them down during patient exams (60 percent in 2011 versus 54 percent in 2010) and don't achieve measurable financial impact (39 percent in 2011 versus 33 percent in 2010). About the same proportion, just over 70 percent in both years, said EHRs require effort to stay current with federal requirements or incentives
However, physicians' overall opinion of EHRs held steady from 2010 to 2011, with 77 percent reporting a favorable view of them and 75 percent saying they believe EHRs can improve care.
Read the athenahealth release on EHR.
Read more coverage of EMR adoption:
- 53% of Healthcare IT Executives Cite Physician Adoption as the Greatest Challenge
- CDC To Survey Physicians' Opinions of EHRs, Impact on Healthcare
- Surveys Reveal Surging Interest in Healthcare IT by Investors, Providers