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EHR use is soaring - or is it?

New government study looks at both sides

New government study looks at both sides

Adoption of the technology is increasing, but not as much as the overall numbers indicate. According to the CDC's National Center for Health Statistics, 23.9 percent of physicians said they were using full or partial EHRs in 2005. That?s a substantial jump from the 17.3 percent that said they had EHRs in 2003. But only 9.3 percent of the respondents used EHRs that that gave them clinical reminders and that allowed the doctors to document notes, prescribe drugs, order tests, and receive lab results electronically.

Larger groups continue to lead the way in EHR adoption, while soloists are the least likely to use the technology. Physicians in the Midwest and West are much more likely to have EHRs than those in the Northeast.

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Jay W. Lee, MD, MPH, FAAFP headshot | © American Association of Family Practitioners