MDs Looking to Dump Ineffective EHRs

Physicians are clamoring for mobile device electronic health record (EHR) apps, but are disappointed with their current EHR systems, according to poll results.

The Black Book Rankings is predicting 2013 will be the “Year of the Big EHR Switch.” One in five physicians responding to the company’s poll revealed that there is a high likelihood they will change to a different EHR system.

Meanwhile, physicians have named EHR-integrated mobile apps as one of their must-haves. More than 100 vendors told Black Book that they would introduce fully functional mobile access and/or iPad versions of their EHR products by the end of the year.

“A mandate has been issued and progressive vendors are reacting,” reports Doug Brown, Managing Partner of Black Book Research. “A full 100% of practices participating in the follow up poll expect EHR systems that allow access to patient data wherever physicians are providing or reviewing care.”

While just 8% of physicians currently use a mobile device for e-prescribing, accessing records, ordering tests or viewing results, there is strong interest in using mobile devices for much more. According to responses, 83% would use mobile EHR functions to update patient charts, check labs and order medications.

However, a simplified version of the EHR system on the smartphone is preferred over system replication, according to 83% of physician respondents.

“The vast majority of all survey respondents favored mobile applications that focus on the patient data and core parts of medical practice most needed when the physician is away from the office setting,” noted Brown of the survey findings.

The desire for mobile functionality varied across specialties with 100% of hospitalists, 98% of primary care physicians and 97% of internists indicating a strong preference for EHR usability on mobile devices. Just 87% of nephrologists were felt the same while surgeons had the lowest interest in mobile devices (14%).

The poll also revealed that Apple maintains an incredibly strong hold among physicians with 68% reporting they used iPhones and 31% said other phones.