Survey: EHRs, smartphones becoming workflow norm for clinicians
Smartphones are quickly becoming a way of life for medical professionals where 62 percent of specialists and 55 percent of primary care physicians (PCPs) report having one, and roughly 85 percent to 90 percent of those who have them are using them for internet and for email, according to a survey from Knowledge Networks using the Physicians Consulting Network (PCN).
PCN, Knowledge Networks’ panel of healthcare professionals, surveyed nearly 11,000 healthcare professionals about how technology and other factors are transforming doctors' attitudes and habits. The researchers found that more than half of PCPs and specialists already have smartphones, and that many are using them for email, shopping, e-detailing – and survey taking.
Compared with two years ago, PCPs and specialist doctors alike have increased their use of EHRs, and they are expecting to spend less time with sales representatives in the coming six months, PCN found. The survey also showed that 17 percent of PCPs and 18 percent of specialists who have smartphones are using them for e-detailing. Twenty-nine percent of PCPs and 24 percent of specialists use smartphones to participate in online surveys, the researchers found.
Following a 2008 PCN study, the survey found that 52 percent of specialists and 50 percent of PCPs said they are already keeping their patient records in an electronic format – up 10 percentage points for specialists and 12 points for PCPs since 2008.
These early adopter levels suggest a desire for digital convenience at a time when patient record keeping promises to become exponentially more complex, according to the report authors.
In addition, 12 percent of specialists and 14 percent of PCPs said they expected to decrease the amount of time they spend with pharmaceutical sales representatives in the next six months. These figures are significantly but not dramatically higher than in 2008, when the results were 8 percent for specialists and 9 percent for PCPs; but the change points to increasing demands on the time of healthcare professionals, according to Knowledge Networks, of Menlo Park, Calif.
PCN, Knowledge Networks’ panel of healthcare professionals, surveyed nearly 11,000 healthcare professionals about how technology and other factors are transforming doctors' attitudes and habits. The researchers found that more than half of PCPs and specialists already have smartphones, and that many are using them for email, shopping, e-detailing – and survey taking.
Compared with two years ago, PCPs and specialist doctors alike have increased their use of EHRs, and they are expecting to spend less time with sales representatives in the coming six months, PCN found. The survey also showed that 17 percent of PCPs and 18 percent of specialists who have smartphones are using them for e-detailing. Twenty-nine percent of PCPs and 24 percent of specialists use smartphones to participate in online surveys, the researchers found.
Following a 2008 PCN study, the survey found that 52 percent of specialists and 50 percent of PCPs said they are already keeping their patient records in an electronic format – up 10 percentage points for specialists and 12 points for PCPs since 2008.
These early adopter levels suggest a desire for digital convenience at a time when patient record keeping promises to become exponentially more complex, according to the report authors.
In addition, 12 percent of specialists and 14 percent of PCPs said they expected to decrease the amount of time they spend with pharmaceutical sales representatives in the next six months. These figures are significantly but not dramatically higher than in 2008, when the results were 8 percent for specialists and 9 percent for PCPs; but the change points to increasing demands on the time of healthcare professionals, according to Knowledge Networks, of Menlo Park, Calif.