This data brief from the National Center for Health Statistics reports on the use of electronic health records (EHRs) among office-based physician practices in the United States. Among the key findings:
- In 2013, 78% of office-based physicians used any type of electronic health record (EHR) system, up from 18% in 2001.
- In 2013, 48% of office-based physicians reported having a system that met the criteria for a basic system, up from 11% in 2006. The percentage of physicians with basic systems by state ranged from 21% in New Jersey to 83% in North Dakota.
- In 2013, 69% of office-based physicians reported that they intended to participate (i.e., they planned to apply or already had applied) in “meaningful use” incentives. About 13% of all office-based physicians reported that they both intended to participate in meaningful use incentives and had EHR systems with the capabilities to support 14 of the Stage 2 Core Set objectives for meaningful use.
- From 2010 (the earliest year that trend data are available) to 2013, physician adoption of EHRs able to support various Stage 2 meaningful use objectives increased significantly.
Ignatius Bau 