Report: 54% of docs believe EHRs safer than paper
A majority of physicians reported that EHRs are safer than their paper record counterparts, citing accessibility of data as the top safety benefit, according to a study conducted by GfK Roper for the web-based EHR community Practice Fusion.
“Patient perception mixed with 47 percent stating that paper was safer and 39 percent believing that EHRs are actually the safer option,” the San Francisco-based Practice Fusion added.
Conducted via an omnibus survey Oct. 21 to 23, patient interviews were conducted among 1,006 adults age 18 or older. The physician survey was conducted online Oct. 28 using the same questions as the patient survey with a sample of 1,220 medical professionals. Fifty-four percent of physicians agreed that EHRs are safer with only 18 percent of respondents selecting paper as the safer option.
Of physicians who said EHRs were safer, access to records when needed is the top benefit (63 percent), according to the survey. Thirty-six percent of physicians who select paper charts as the safer option believed that paper is more secure because it is less likely to be hacked or lost.
Patient views on medical records were mixed with 47 percent believing that paper is safer and 39 percent believing that EHRs are safer, the report found. “Of patients who said EHRs were safer, 77 percent strongly agreed that being able to access records when needed is the greatest benefit of EHRs over paper,” the report concluded, adding that of patients who said paper charts were safer, 59 percent agreed or strongly agreed that paper records are the more private option and allow for more control over who sees those records.
“Patient perception mixed with 47 percent stating that paper was safer and 39 percent believing that EHRs are actually the safer option,” the San Francisco-based Practice Fusion added.
Conducted via an omnibus survey Oct. 21 to 23, patient interviews were conducted among 1,006 adults age 18 or older. The physician survey was conducted online Oct. 28 using the same questions as the patient survey with a sample of 1,220 medical professionals. Fifty-four percent of physicians agreed that EHRs are safer with only 18 percent of respondents selecting paper as the safer option.
Of physicians who said EHRs were safer, access to records when needed is the top benefit (63 percent), according to the survey. Thirty-six percent of physicians who select paper charts as the safer option believed that paper is more secure because it is less likely to be hacked or lost.
Patient views on medical records were mixed with 47 percent believing that paper is safer and 39 percent believing that EHRs are safer, the report found. “Of patients who said EHRs were safer, 77 percent strongly agreed that being able to access records when needed is the greatest benefit of EHRs over paper,” the report concluded, adding that of patients who said paper charts were safer, 59 percent agreed or strongly agreed that paper records are the more private option and allow for more control over who sees those records.