U.S. Lags Behind Other Countries in EHR Adoption

The U.S. trails other countries in electronic health record adoption, according to a recent Commonwealth Fund report, Modern Healthcare reports.

EHR use in the U.S. increased from 17% in 2001 to 28% in 2006, according to the report. However, if adoption continues at the current rate, it will take more than 30 years to expand clinical support tools to all U.S. physicians, the report states.

Meanwhile, 98% of physicians in the Netherlands, 92% of physicians in New Zealand and 89% of physicians in the United Kingdom have adopted EHRs. In addition, 79% of physicians in Australia and 42% of physicians in Germany have adopted EHRs. 

Canada's adoption rate is lower than the U.S., with 23% of physicians using EHRs (DerGurahian, Modern Healthcare, 7/18).

Source : ihealthbeat.