Ophthalmologists are becoming increasingly dissatisfied with electronic health records (EHRs) as their perceptions of financial and clinical productivity decline, according to a study published in JAMA Ophthalmology.

In this study, researchers evaluated the results of three surveys examining perceptions toward EHRs by ophthalmologists. Members of the American Academy of Ophthalmology were included in the surveys, which included 592 respondents to a 2006 survey, 492 in 2011 and 348 in 2016.

Of all participants, 72.1 percent had implemented EHRs, a 19 percent increase from 2006. While only 15 percent of respondents in 2006 believed that EHR implementation reduced productivity, more than half of respondents believed the same in 2016. Additionally, 13 percent of respondents in 2006 believed EHRs increase costs, which increased to 75 percent in 2016.

"Our findings highlight the fact that companies that design EHR systems should further address the efficiency and usability of those systems," said lead author Michele C. Lim, vice chair and medical director of the University of California, Davis Eye Center. "The surveys reveal deepening dissatisfaction with utilizing EHR. Despite their dissatisfaction, however, only one-third of ophthalmologists surveyed said that they would return to paper records if they could, and more than half said they would not."