Health IT still faces digital divide
Despite the rising rate of EHR adoption, a "digital divide" between large and small physician practices persists, according to a study from the Commonwealth Fund.
Between 2009 and 2012, EHR adoption grew from 46 percent to 69 percent and a majority of physicians use core health IT functions such as e-prescribing, electronic ordering of lab tests and certain types of clinical decision support. But, there was a marked difference between practices with 20 or more physicians and solo practices.
Ninety percent of the larger practices use EHRs compared to just half of those in solo practices.
In 2012, 33 percent of primary care physicians could exchange clinical summaries with other doctors and 35 percent could share lab or diagnostic tests with doctors outside their practice. About one-third offered electronic access to patients.Physicians who are part of an integrated delivery system, practices that share resources and those eligible for financial incentives have higher rates of health IT adoption.
Technical assistance programs and financial incentives can help close this "digital divide," the report authors wrote.
Access the report.
Editor
Editor Beth earned a bachelor’s degree in journalism and master’s in health communication. She has worked in hospital, academic and publishing settings over the past 20 years. Beth joined TriMed in 2005, as editor of CMIO and Clinical Innovation + Technology. When not covering all things related to health IT, she spends time with her husband and three children.