NCHS Reports EMR/EHR Use Increasing

Post date: Dec 11, 2010 7:16:12 AM

The National Center for Health Statistics has just published Electronic Medical Record/Electronic Health Record Systems of Office-based Physicians: United States, 2009 and Preliminary 2010 State Estimates. The percentage of fully functional systems has increased by 45% but the overall use has increased only 5%. We will have to wait and see where the growth actually took place - upgrades of basic systems or new adopters.

Photo Credit: http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/hestat/emr_ehr_09/emr_ehr_09_fig1.png

The NAMCS Survey instrument Electronic Medical Records Supplement asks the question:

16. Does the reporting location use and electronic medical record (EMR) or electronic health record (EHR) system?

Allowed responses: Yes, all electronic; Yes, part paper and part electronic; No, Unknown

18. Please indicate whether the reporting location has each of the computerized capabilities listed below.

Allowed response: Yes; Yes, but turned off or not used, No, Unknown

[a list of features followed]

What I found interesting in the survey is a question on surrogate prescribers:

19. At the reporting location, if orders for prescriptions or lab tests are submitted electronically, who submits them? CHECK ALL THAT APPLY

I look forward to more details from the survey.