Data Snapshot: Physician Practices Connect with EHR and Report Benefits to Workflow and Patient Outcomes

​More than half of physicians in office-based practices have adopted an electronic health record (EHR) system as of 2011, according to data from the National Center for Health Statistics. The widespread adoption of EHRs by 55% of physicians in office-based practices is partly in response to the federal government’s initiative to provide Medicare and Medicaid payment incentives to physicians and hospitals that demonstrate “meaningful use” of EHR systems. About three-quarters (77%) of physicians who had adopted EHRs said that their systems complied with federal meaningful use criteria. Of the 45% of physicians who had not adopted an EHR system as of 2011, about half said that they had already purchased a system or were planning to adopt one within 12 months. Generally, EHR adopters were either somewhat (47%) or very (38%) satisfied with the electronic systems. As shown in the figure, EHR adopters said the systems enhanced overall patient care and improved workflow by, for example, enabling them to access patient charts .

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