Survey shows increasing EHR acceptance among consumers

The number of consumers who embrace EHRs is growing with 86 percent of patients with online access to their health records using their online records at least once, according to a study conducted by the National Partnership for Women & Families.

More than half (55 percent) used their online records three or more times, according to Engaging Patients and Families: How Consumers Value and Use Health IT. The  report serves as a follow-up to the organization’s 2011 national survey that assessed consumer views toward EHRs and health IT. “To date, the public discourse on health IT has largely focused on the views of doctors, hospitals and vendors,” said National Partnership President Debra L. Ness in a release. “It is crucial to hear what patients have to say about how they experience EHRs and health IT as they receive care and manage their health.”

“As the National Partnership’s new data show, more consumers are accessing, sharing and using their health information, underlining the importance of interoperability of health data and systems. We are focusing our efforts in these areas to empower individuals to address not only gaps in information exchange and interoperability, but also enable them to take steps to improve their health and better manage their health needs,” said National Coordinator for Health IT Karen DeSalvo, MD, MPH, MSc.

The survey's key findings include the following:

• Eighty percent of U.S. adults who have doctors and know what kind of record systems—electronic or paper—their doctors use said that their doctors use EHR systems. That is up from 64 percent in 2011;
• Eighty-five to 96 percent of all patients found EHRs useful in various aspects of care delivery, while only 57-68 percent saw paper records as useful;
• Patients’ online access to EHRs has nearly doubled, surging from 26 percent in 2011 to 50 percent in 2014;
• Consumers want even more robust functionality and features of online access than are available today, including the ability to email providers (56 percent); review treatment plans (56 percent), doctors’ notes (58 percent) and test results (75 percent); schedule appointments (64 percent); and submit medication refill requests (59 percent);
• Patients’ trust in the privacy and security of EHRs has increased since 2011, and patients with online access to their health information have a much higher level of trust in their doctor and medical staff (77 percent) than those with EHRs that don’t include online access (67 percent); and
• Different populations prefer and use different health IT functionalities. For instance, Hispanic adults were significantly more likely than non-Hispanic Whites (78 vs. 55 percent) to say that having online access to their EHRs increases their desire to do something about their health; and African American adults were among the most likely to say that EHRs are helpful in finding and correcting medical errors and keeping up with medications. Specialized strategies may be necessary to improve health outcomes and reduce disparities in underserved populations.

The new study also reports the views of lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender people, as well as people with disabilities, since these individuals experience significant disparities, too.

“The views of patients must be front and center as we take the next steps in implementing health IT,” said Sandra R. Hernández, President and CEO of the California HealthCare Foundation, which funded the new survey. “As we as a nation become more diverse, the imperative to address disparities grows. We need the kind of robust information EHRs provide and the genuine patient engagement they can facilitate.”

Harris Poll conducted the online survey of 2,045 adults who indicated that they have a primary doctor and their doctor keeps medical and health information in electronic or paper format. The survey was conducted between April 22 and May 7, 2014 on behalf of the National Partnership for Women & Families. The report includes a number of recommendations on the use of EHRs, online access, electronic communication and information sharing, privacy and trust, and designing and building for diversity. 

Read the complete report.