Mobile users of electronic health records are more satisfied with their EHR systems than non-mobile users, according to a Software Advice survey, Health Data Management reports (Slabodkin, Health Data Management, 10/23).
Survey Details
For the annual survey, which web-based EHR selection group Software Advice conducted in collaboration with Research Now, researchers collected responses from nearly 600 physicians of varying practice sizes and types.
Of the respondents, 76% said they accessed EHRs via a desktop or laptop, while 26% said they accessed EHRs via a tablet or smartphone (Wicklund, mHealthNews, 10/20).
Findings
Researchers found that:
- 58% of mobile EHR users were “very satisfied” with their EHR systems, compared with 28% of non-mobile users;
- 39% of mobile EHR users said learning to use their EHR software was challenging, compared with 58% of non-mobile users; and
- 73% of mobile users reported that EHR-related productivity problems were not a challenge, compared with 42% of non-mobile EHR users (Health Data Management, 10/23).
Further, the survey found that more than half of respondents planned to maintain their EHR-related IT investment level through the end of 2014. Meanwhile:
- 28% said they planned to increase their EHR-related investment level by the end of the year;
- 13% said they were unsure if they would increase their EHR-related investment level; and
- 5% said they planned to decrease their EHR-related investment level (Irwin, Software Advice survey, 10/14).
In terms of specific EHR investments:
- 36% of respondents expected to increase investments in patient portals; and
- 29% expected to increase investments in electronic prescribing technology (mHealthNews, 10/20).
When asked about “major or “moderate” challenges facing their EHR use:
- 56% of respondents cited interoperability with other EHR systems; and
- 49% cited reduced productivity (Software Advice survey, 10/14)
