A survey in JAMA Ophthalmology found that 72.1 percent of participating ophthalmologists have adopted electronic health records. The surveyed ophthalmologists reported that their net revenues and productivity have declined and practice costs are higher with EHR use.
Here are four things to know:
1. This population-based, cross-sectional survey assessed EHR adoption rate and perceptions of financial and clinical productivity by generating a random sample of 2,000 ophthalmologists on the basis of mailing address zip codes from the 2015 American Academy of Ophthalmology U.S. active membership database, which included more than 18,000 ophthalmologists.
2. The email survey, which was conducted between 2015 and 2016, assessed adoption rate of EHRs, perceptions of financial and clinical productivity and engagement with Medicare and Medicaid programs that incentivize EHR use.
3. There were 348 respondents. Of those who attested for stage 1 of the EHR incentive program, 83 percent had already or were planning to attest to stage 2, but 9 percent had no plans.
4. The ophthalmologist EHR adoption rate has more than doubled since a 2011 survey and is comparable to that of primary care physicians, of whom 79 percent have adopted EHR. Compared to two previous surveys of ophthalmologists, respondents had more negative perceptions of EHR productivity outcomes and effect on practice costs, although financial data was not collected in this survey. The study authors suggest that these negative perceptions highlight the need for efforts to improve the efficiency and usability of EHR systems.
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