While the majority of patients expect their provider to have an EHR system, half of them report having concerns about their safety and security.
A recent survey from the Morning Consult polled 3,687 registered voters online to better understand their views on and preferences for EHR technology. The majority (83 percent) of those surveyed said they expect their provider to use an EHR system, while only 8 percent did not expect their hospitals to use one.
Interestingly, only 68 percent of those who were uninsured said they had those expectations, while more than 80 percent admitted they expected their hospital to use an EHR.
However, despite the high number of patients who report wanting electronic records, there was also a stunningly high number of those who say they don’t trust the safety and security of digital records.
Becker’s Hospital Review reports, “While 53 percent of respondents trusted EHRs to be safe, 39 percent said they worry about EHR security. Respondents between ages 18 and 29 indicated the highest level of trust for EHR safety at 61 percent, followed by respondents ages 65 and over at 59 percent. Respondents between 45 and 64 worry the most about EHR security at 46 percent, followed by respondents between 30 and 44 at 37 percent.”
Respondents were also asked what technology they think providers should use to electronically record patient information. iHealth Beat summarized the results:
- 38 percent of respondents said that they expected providers to use an iPad or tablet
- 34 percent said they expected providers to use a laptop
- 17 percent said they expected providers to use an iPhone or smartphone
- 2 percent said they expected providers to use a different device
The majority of those surveyed (60 percent) said they would use an app capable of storing their health records and medical history; only 16 percent said they would not. A recent report from the CDC’s National Center for Health Statistics shows that 3 out of 4 office based doctors currently use EHR technology.
