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Cost, practice size hinder physicians from adopting IT

Physician Practice Advisor, January 4, 2005

Nearly 60% of physicians in large groups (50 or more physicians) use an electronic medical record (EMR) routinely or occasionally, compared to 25% of solo physicians, according to a 2003 Commonwealth Fund Survey of 1,837 U.S. physicians. Further, 87% of large group practice physicians can access test results electronically v. 36% of solo practitioners.

The survey, published in the Dec. 7, 2004, issue of Medscape General Medicine, found physicians who practice in large medical groups and who are salaried are more likely to adopt and use information technology (IT) than those solo practitioners or those who practice in smaller settings.

The study, titled Information Technologies: When Will They Make It into Physicians' Black Bags?, also revealed the following:

• More than 75% of physicians use electronic billing routinely or occasionally, but far fewer make use of IT to improve practice efficiency and quality or to communicate with other physicians or patients
• 59% of physicians report electronically accessing patients test results either routinely or occasionally
• About 27% use an EMR routinely or occasionally; most often it is coupled with electronic access to lab results, but less often to other decision-making aids such as alerts to prevent drug ordering errors
• 25% order tests, procedures, or drugs electronically; only 17% do it routinely
• 54% send reminders to patients regarding routine check-ups or preventive care, but only 21% do this electronically

Although start-up costs are a major barrier to adoption of technology, physicians also said lack of local, regional, and national standards pose a problem, as well as lack of time to consider acquiring, implementing, and using a new system.

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