Physicians Identify Concerns With EHR Technology

A recent survey by the Physicians Practice, a division of UBM, found that the number one pressing information technology problem was EHR adoption and implementation. A lack of interoperability between the electronic records was the second most pressing.

While over half (53.1 percent) of the 1,400 physicians surveyed said they had a fully implemented EHR system, roughly 20 percent of those surveyed said they currently did not, citing expenses and a lack of products that met their needs as the main reasons.

An additional 17 percent said they were currently using an EHR system selected and provided by their parent hospital or corporation.

When asked if their EHR had made practice work flow more efficient, it was a close tie between those approving and those denying, according to the survey. Forty seven percent of physicians said their EHR had made their practice more competent, while 33 percent said it did not.

According to AMA Wire, the survey results echo findings of another survey. That of AMA’s 2013 research report with RAND Corporation on the factors affecting physician professional satisfaction.

The survey found EHR systems to be a major contributor to physicians’ professional dissatisfaction, with those surveyed expressing concern that current technology requires too much time spent on clerical work and putting up barriers to provide high-quality care.

Last year’s study also revealed that “EHRs were more costly than anticipated and didn’t provide the technology needed to interact with other systems, causing difficulties in transmitting patient information,” said AMA Wire.

Approximately 60 percent of physicians surveyed by Physicians Practice said they had not seen a return on investment as a result of their EHR, and as a result, 28 percent of physicians expect to invest less in EHRs than they have in the past years.

Despite complaints, however, EHR use is seeing a steady trend upward with 70 percent of responding practices implementing an EHR, a drastic jump from 48 percent in 2010.

To view additional results from the technology survey, visit Physicians Practice.