Adoption of electronic health records by family physicians has doubled since 2005, reaching 68 percent nationally in 2011.
According to analysis of two independent data sets, researchers found family physicians are adopting electronic health records at a higher rate than other office-based physicians and are likely to exceed 80 percent penetration by 2013 if the current trend continues.
State-level analysis, however, indicates significant variation in EHR adoption—from a low of 44 percent in North Carolina to a high of 88 percent in Hawaii, according to one of the two data sets, and a low of 47 percent in North Dakota and a high of 95 percent in Utah, according to the other—pointing to important geographical gaps that may result from significant variation in states' commitment to health information technology adoption.
They note that states with higher EHR adoption among family physicians generally had higher EHR adoption for other office-based physicians, consistent with a state-level effect. The researchers call for further research and policy making focused on targeted interventions and funding adjustments to address the significant interstate variability.
The Rise of Electronic Health Record Adoption Among Family Physicians By Imam M. Xierali, PhD, et al, Care Association of American Medical Colleges