Physicians Report Health IT Growing But Systems Lag

A new Optum Institute/Harris Interactive national survey provides insights into US consumers' willingness to view their medical records and engage with care providers online. The survey was conducted online within the United States among 1,000 US physicians, 2,870 US adults, and 400 US hospital executives. While 70 percent of physicians surveyed have basic Electronic Medical Record capabilities, only 40 percent say they have the capability to engage with patients via email or provide access to health records. Three of four consumers say they are willing to go online to view their medical records, and 57 percent of seniors are ready to go online to manage their health. In addition, more than 60 percent want to communicate with their doctors via email or the Internet; fewer than 30 percent are interested in “snail mail” reminder cards. Despite the interest, results show an increased need for patient-facing technology. Full results are available here.