EHR adoption jumps, with big practices leading pack, study finds

Adoption of electronic health-record systems by primary-care physicians soared between 2009 and 2012, but larger practices soared higher than smaller ones and interoperability between providers' systems and patients lagged, according to a study report by the Commonwealth Fund.

EHR adoption by primary-care physicians jumped from 46% to 69% during the period, as did their use of certain health IT functions such as electronic prescription transmissions to pharmacies, 34% to 66%; and electronic lab ordering, 38% to 54%.

But only half of physicians in solo practices were using EHRs in 2012 vs. 90% of docs in groups of 20 or more.

Also in 2012, just 1 in 3 primary-care physicians could swap clinical summaries with a physician colleague and only 35% could share lab results outside their practices.

Interoperability with patients tracked similarly, with 33% or fewer physicians allowing patients to electronically view test results, make appointments or ask for Rx refills.

The study report, published in the February issue of Health Services Journal, a synopsis of which is posted online at the Commonwealth Fund website, was based on surveys conducted by the Commonwealth Fund in 2009 (of 1,012 primary-care physicians) and 2012 (1,442 primary-care physicians).

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