Study: Small med offices fastest-growing segment for EHR adoption

Small medical offices with one or two physicians in the practice are the fastest-growing segment for adoption of EHR software, according to the latest results of an ongoing study by SK&A, of Cegedim, a healthcare information and research firm. 

SK&A’s recently updated “Physician Office Usage of EHRs Software” report states that solo and small practices are outpacing larger groups in EHR adoption. For the second half of 2011, the adoption rate for single-doctor offices jumped six percentage points, from 30.8 percent to 36.9 percent, while the adoption rate for offices with six to 10 doctors jumped only two percentage points, from 63 percent to 65 percent. 

The report, based on an ongoing telephone survey of 240,281 U.S. medical sites, showed an overall EHR adoption rate of 45.6 percent, up from 40.4 percent from the prior period. Other trends included:

• EHR adoption rises as the number of physicians practicing at each site rises. Offices with three to five practicing physicians had 54.9 percent adoption, while offices with more than 26 practicing physicians had 77.2 percent adoption.
• EHR adoption rises as the number of exam rooms at each site rises. Offices with one to three exam rooms had 34.6 percent average adoption, while offices with more than 11 exam rooms had 66.6 percent adoption.
• EHR adoption rises as the average daily patient volume at each site rises. Offices with average daily patient volumes of one to 50 patients had 41.2 percent adoption, while offices with more than 100 patients had 68.4 percent adoption.
• Physician specialties with the highest adoption rates are dialysis (68.4 percent), pathology (66.2 percent), nuclear medicine (64.2 percent), and radiology (62.8 percent).

Site ownership also plays a role in EHR adoption, the Irvine, Calif-based SK&A stated. Medical practices owned by hospitals or health systems have a higher adoption rate.

Additionally, another ongoing survey by SK&A, titled “EHR Adoption in Medical Offices: Looking Forward,” provides insights for EHR installation and intent; including timeframes for adoption, buying factors, primary decision makers and awareness of government incentives. Key findings in this survey of 50,822 U.S. medical sites include:

• Of those who have not yet adopted, 70.6 percent have not determined a timeframe.
• Cost is the most important buying factor for 18.2 percent of physician offices; however, 68.1 percent have indicated no single main buying factor.
• The doctor(s) at the practice (70.1 percent) are the primary decision makers.