Family physicians lead EHR adoption

Family physicians are adopting EHRs faster than previous data suggested, reaching a nearly 70 percent adoption rate nationwide, according to findings published in Annals of Family Medicine. EHR adoption by family physicians has doubled since 2005, with researchers estimating that the adoption rate will exceed 80 percent by the end of 2013.

The findings revealed a higher percentage of EHR adoption among physicians compared to a July 2012 study conducted by the Center for National Health Statistics, which reported that 55 percent of office-based physicians had adopted EHRs.

EHR adoption rates among family physicians, however, have been shown to be higher than other office-based specialities. For example, a November 2012 study reported that pediatricians had some of the lowest adoption rates of EHR systems, at 41 percent.

Researchers also point to geographical differences in EHR adoption rates. Georgia, Massachusetts, Minnesota, New Hampshire, Oregon and Utah, for example, had significantly higher adoption rates than Florida, Illinois, Michigan and Ohio. Utah family physicians had the highest EHR adoption rates in the country, at nearly 95 percent statewide. North Dakota ranked lowest among the 50 states, with an overall EHR adoption rate of 47 percent.

Study co-author Andrew Bazemore, MD, director of the Robert Graham Center for Policy Studies in Primary Care, said the study suggests adoption may have reached a tipping point but "more work is needed, including better information from all of the states."