Study: Many Patients Willing To Switch Doctors For EHR Access

A large number of U.S. consumers would be willing to switch physicians in order to gain access to their electronic health records, although a far smaller number of physicians believe they should have such access, according to a new study by Accenture.

The survey of 1,000 individuals in the U.S. and more than 8,000 in eight other countries conducted last July concluded that 41% of consumers would be willing to switch doctors in order to gain access to their EHR. And 84% of those consumers surveyed say they should have full access to their medical records.

“The rise of Meaningful Use mandates and a growing trend of self-care among consumers is shifting the role of an EMR from a mere clinical repository to a platform for shared decision-making among consumers and doctors,” said Kaveh Safavi, M.D., managing director of Accenture’s North America healthcare business. “Just as consumers can self-manage most other aspects of their lives, theyexpect to take greater ownership of their medical care, and they are willing to switch to doctors who share their values and are willing to provide access to consumer records.”

A survey conducted by Accenture in conjunction with Harris Polling earlier this year found that 93% of physicians use some form of electronic health record system, with 78% routinely entering patient notes electronically.

By contrast, only 36% of physicians surveyed in a different poll believe consumers should have full access to their EHRs, compared to the 65% who say patients should have only limited access. Some 64% of patients say limited access is exactly what they have – with 37% having no access at all.

“When consumers are part of the record-keeping process, it can increase their understanding of conditions, improve motivation and serve as a clear differentiator for clinical care,” Safavi said.