Nearly 87% of office-based physicians are using an EHR system, although certain specialties—like cardiologists and neurologists—have higher adoption rates, while others still lag behind.
That’s according to (PDF) the 2015 National Electronic Health Records Survey (NEHRS) conducted by the CDC’s National Center for Health Statistics and sponsored by the Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology, which surveyed more than 10,000 physicians in 2015.
More than three-quarters of physicians indicated they used a certified system that meets the Department of Health and Human Services Meaningful Use criteria, while 54% of respondents said they use a “basic” system that includes patient history, clinical notes and medication lists.
Cardiologists and neurologists led the pack when it came to overall EHR adoption, with 95.6% and 94.5% respectively. Orthopedic surgeons, general surgeons and family practice physicians all reported above-average adoption rates.
However, psychiatrists reported a 61.3% overall adoption rate, and just over 40% were using a certified EHR.
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Previous surveys have shown that EHR adoption among physicians is nearly universal, although satisfaction rates are still low. During his confirmation hearing, HHS Secretary Tom Price criticized federal EHR regulations, indicating that systems have turned physicians into “data entry clerks” and even forced some to quit practicing medicine entirely.