EHR adoption up 3 percent since 2009, study finds

The electronic health record (EHR) adoption rate in medical offices has climbed 3.2 percent since last year to 36.1 percent, according to a survey by a health care research firm.

The study, by Irvine, California-based SK&A, is based on telephone surveys with 180,000 U.S. physician offices.

The study found that EHR adoption is greater in hospital- or health system-owned sites. Hospital-owned and health system-owned sites have adoption rates of 44.1 percent and 50.2 percent, respectively. Non hospital-owned and non health system-owned sites have adoption rates of 34.4 percent and 34.2 percent, respectively.

The specialty areas with the highest adoption rates include dialysis, critical care medicine, and radiology. Those specialties with the lowest adoption rates include allergy/immunology, general surgery, and general practice.