Business
Survey: Patients like docs with EMRs
NEWS IN BRIEF — Posted March 19, 2007
A study by the consulting giant Accenture finds that two-thirds of patients say the use of electronic medical records is an important factor in choosing a physician -- and half say they would pay a "reasonable" extra fee to see a physician who uses them. Meanwhile, the same survey found only 11% of physicians using EMRs.
Accenture interviewed 600 patients and 100 physicians.
About three-quarters of patients identified a potential EMR benefit as including greater access and patient control over records as well as the ability to ask more informed questions, confirm information provided by a physician, and better understand treatment options.
The top five benefits cited by physicians were: easier sharing and obtaining of information; access to more comprehensive patient information; fewer lost records; improved efficiency in patient billing; and reduced clinical errors. All were cited by at least 80% of physicians.
Note: This item originally appeared at http://www.ama-assn.org/amednews/2007/03/19/bibf0319.htm.