Use of mobile devices by physicians influences EMR purchases

More than half of physicians are using smartphones for professional purposes, and more than a quarter are using tablet computers. Their enthusiasm for mobile devices is affecting their choices regarding electronic medical records, according to an information technology trade group.

CompTIA, an information technology association, surveyed 350 physicians and health care administrators as well as executives at 400 IT companies that work in the health care sector. It found that 56% of physicians are using smartphones, and 25% are using tablets for work.

The number of physicians using comprehensive EMR systems was only 38%, the report found.

Although implementing or improving an EMR is a high priority for 42% of those surveyed, their decisions are influenced by whether the chosen system will have a mobile component, said Tim Herbert, vice president of research for CompTIA.

Herbert said there is "a lot of experimentation going on in how these devices will be used." Physicians are using the mobile devices for more routine office activities such as maintaining schedules and signing off on prescriptions. He said they aren't using them for activities that involve accessing sensitive patient data, but "clearly there is a strong interest in having that capability."

As a result, some EMR vendors are offering apps or alternative ways of accessing the EMRs remotely, and that is having an impact on decisions about which system a practice adopts, Herbert said. But he does not expect the mobile devices to replace computers.

Herbert said he was somewhat surprised to see that physicians ranked improving the security of their systems and data lower than other priorities. Forty percent placed a mid-level priority on security, and only 24% placed it as a top priority.

"I think physicians are naturally very sensitive to patient privacy and certainly the regulatory requirements," Herbert said. "But with mobile devices, there may still be a situation of not fully understanding the various vulnerabilities associated with a mobile device.

"There seems to be a greater concern among the IT firms about mobile device security relative to the physicians," Herbert said. "And I think it may be a case of these devices coming on rather quickly, especially tablets."