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Despite slow adoption rate, ophthalmologists highly satisfied with EHR systems
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Ophthalmologists have been slow to adopt electronic health record systems into their practices, but those who have begun using these technologies are highly satisfied with their systems, according to a study.
Flora Lum, MD, and colleagues in the American Academy of Ophthalmology Medical Information Technology Committee administered an EHR adoption survey by either telephone or the Internet to 592 AAO members. In addition to assessing EHR adoption rates, the survey also examined demographic data, as well as the rate of user satisfaction and the benefit of various features of EHR systems among ophthalmologists who had already adopted the technology into their practices.
The investigators reported that 12% of all surveyed practices had already adopted EHR systems. In addition, 7% were currently in the process of adopting EHR technology and 10% expected to implement EHR systems within a year.
Ophthalmologists who had not adopted EHR systems rated the same features as potential benefits for their practices and chose similar options for simplifying the EHR selection process as those ophthalmologists who had already adopted the technology, according to the study.
Among ophthalmologists who had already adopted EHR systems into their practice, 69% were satisfied or extremely satisfied with their system. In addition, 64% reported either stable or improved productivity, and 76% reported that they would recommend an EHR system to a colleague.
Overall, 51% of all surveyed ophthalmologists reported decreased or stable costs associated with adopting EHR technology, the authors said in the September issue of Ophthalmology.