Health IT Research & Analysis
Datasets

Office-based Physician Health IT Adoption and Use

Date Range

2008 – 2019

Last Updated

May 2019

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Since 2008, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s National Center for Health Statistics has fielded a mail survey of office-based physicians, the National Electronic Health Records Survey (NEHRS). ONC helps fund this supplement to track office-based physician adoption and the use of EHRs for health information exchange and patient engagement. Starting in 2010, the NEHRS’s sample size was increased to allow for state-level estimates. The data set estimates each measure nationally and individually for each state and the District of Columbia beginning in 2010, unless otherwise noted.

Data FieldData Description
regionRegion // The region name for the data. This includes all 50 states and the District of Columbia.
region_codeRegion Code // The abbreviation code for the region name. This includes all 50 states and the District of Columbia.
periodTime Period // “Time period for the data. The first four digits correspond to the year of the data, and any other digits refer to the month of the data, beginning with “”01″”/January and ending with “”12″”/December.”
pct_phys_any_ehrPercent of Physicians that have Adopted Any EHR // This measure estimates the percentage of all office-based physicians that have adopted any EHR. Physicians have adopted any EHR if they report that they use an electronic health record or electronic medical record. These reported systems cannot include billing record systems.
pct_phys_basic_ehrPercent of Physicians that have Adopted a Basic EHR // This measure estimates the percentage of all office-based physicians that have adopted a basic EHR. Physicians have adopted a basic EHR system if the computerized system has the following capabilities: patient demographics, patient problem lists, electronic lists of medications taken by patients, clinician notes, orders for medications, viewing laboratory results, and viewing imaging results. Data collection for this measure began in 2008, nationally, and by state in 2010.
pct_phys_cert_ehrPercent of Physicians that have Adopted a Certified EHR // This measure estimates the percentage of all office-based physicians that have adopted a certified EHR. Physicians have adopted a certified EHR if they report that their current EHR system meets the meaningful use criteria as defined by the Department of Health and Human Services.
pct_primary_care_phys_basic_ehrPercent of Primary Care Physicians that have Adopted a Basic EHR // This measure estimates the percentage of all primary care office-based physicians that have adopted a basic EHR. A physician is categorized primary care if she specializes in one of the following areas: adolescent medicine, pediatrics, family practice, general practice, geriatrics, internal medicine, obstetrics, or gynecology. Physicians have adopted a basic EHR system if the computerized system has the following capabilities: patient demographics, patient problem lists, electronic lists of medications taken by patients, clinician notes, orders for medications, viewing laboratory results, and viewing imaging results. Data collection for this measure began in 2008, nationally, and by state in 2010.
pct_primary_care_phys_cert_ehrPercent of Primary Care Physicians that have Adopted a Certified EHR // This measure estimates the percentage of all primary care office-based physicians that have adopted a certified EHR. A physician is categorized primary care if she specializes in one of the following areas: adolescent medicine, pediatrics, family practice, general practice, geriatrics, internal medicine, obstetrics, or gynecology. Physicians have adopted a certified EHR if they report that their current EHR system meets the meaningful use criteria as defined by the Department of Health and Human Services.
pct_surg_med_spec_phys_cert_ehrPercent of Medical and Surgical Specialist Physicians that have Adopted a Certified EHR // This measure estimates the percentage of all office-based medical and surgical specialist physicians that have adopted a certified EHR. A physician is categorized as a medical or surgical specialist if she specializes in a non-primary care medical or surgical specialty. Physicians have adopted a certified EHR if they report that their current EHR system meets the meaningful use criteria as defined by the Department of Health and Human Services.
pct_rural_phys_basic_ehrPercent of Rural Physicians that have Adopted a Basic EHR // This measure estimates the percentage of all rural office-based physicians that have adopted a basic EHR. Physicians have adopted a basic EHR system if the computerized system has the following capabilities: patient demographics, patient problem lists, electronic lists of medications taken by patients, clinician notes, orders for medications, viewing laboratory results, and viewing imaging results. Data collection for this measure began in 2008, nationally, and by state in 2010.
pct_small_practice_phys_basic_ehrPercent of Small Practice Physicians that have Adopted a Basic EHR // This measure estimates the percentage of all small practice office-based physicians that have adopted a basic EHR. A practice is catergorized as small if it has ten or fewer physicians at the survey reporting location. Physicians have adopted a basic EHR system if the computerized system has the following capabilities: patient demographics, patient problem lists, electronic lists of medications taken by patients, clinician notes, orders for medications, viewing laboratory results, and viewing imaging results. Data collection for this measure began in 2008, nationally, and by state in 2010.
pct_small_practice_phys_cert_ehrPercent of Small Practice Physicians that have Adopted a Certified EHR // This measure estimates the percentage of all small practice office-based physicians that have adopted a certified EHR. A practice is catergorized as small if it has ten or fewer physicians at the survey reporting location. Physicians have adopted a certified EHR if they report that their current EHR system meets the meaningful use criteria as defined by the Department of Health and Human Services.
pct_phys_view_labsPercent of Physicians with Computerized Capability to View Laboratory Results // This measure estimates the percentage of all office-based physicians that have an EHR/EMR with the capability to view laboratory results.
pct_phys_send_lab_ordersPercent of Physicians with Computerized Capability to Electronically Send Laboratory Test Orders // This measure estimates the percentage of all office-based physicians that have an EHR/EMR with the capability to electronically send laboratory test orders.
pct_phys_graph_labsPercent of Physicians with Computerized Capability to Automatically Graph a Patient’s Laboratory Results over Time // This measure estimates the percentage of all office-based physicians that have an EHR/EMR with the capability to automatically graph a patient’s laboratory results over time.
pct_phys_e_share_provsPercent of Physicians that Electronically Share Patient Health Information with Any Other Providers // This measure estimates the percentage of all office-based physicians that electronically share any patient health information (lab results, imaging reports, problem lists, medication lists) with any other providers, including hospitals, ambulatory providers, or clinical laboratories.
pct_phys_e_share_ambu_provsPercent of Physicians that Electronically Share Patient Health Information with Ambulatory Providers // This measure estimates the percentage of all office-based physicians that electronically share any patient health information (lab results, imaging reports, problem lists, medication lists) with other ambulatory providers.
pct_phys_e_share_hospsPercent of Physicians that Electronically Share Patient Health Information with Hospitals // This measure estimates the percentage of all office-based physicians that electronically share any patient health information (lab results, imaging reports, problem lists, medication lists) with hospitals.
pct_phys_send_receive_any_patient_infoPercent of Physicians that Electronically Send or Receive any Patient Health Information with any Other Providers // This measure estimates the percentage of all office-based physicians that electronically send or receive patient health information, including any of medication lists, problem lists, medication and allergy lists, imaging reports, laboratory results, registry data (e.g., immunizations, cancer), and referrals, with other providers and public health agencies outside the physicians’ organization.
pct_phys_e_share_patientsPercent of Physicians that Provide Any Electronic Capabilities to Patients // This measure estimates the percentage of all office-based physicians that provide any electronic capabilities to their patients.
pct_phys_patient_secure_messagePercent of Physicians with Capability to Electronically Exchange Secure Messages with Patients // This measure estimates the percentage of all office-based physicians that have an EHR/EMR with the capability to exchange secure messages with patients.
pct_phys_vdtPercent of Physicians that Provide Patients the Capability to View, Download, or Transmit their Health Information // This measure estimates the percentage of all office-based physicians that have an EHR/EMR with the capability to provide patients the ability to view online, download or transmit information from their medical record.
pct_phys_vd_and_tPercent of Physicians that Provide Patients the Capability to View, Download, and Transmit their Health Information // This measure estimates the percentage of all office-based physicians that have an EHR/EMR with the capability to provide patients the ability to view online, download AND transmit information from their medical record.
pct_phys_patient_clinical_summaryPercent of Physicians with Computerized Capability to Provide Patients with Clinical Summaries for each Visit // This measure estimates the percentage of all office-based physicians that have an EHR/EMR with the capability to provide patients with clinical summaries for each patient visit.
pct_phys_find_clin_infoPercent of Physicians with Capability to Search, Find, or Query Patient Health Information from Outside Sources // This measure estimates the percentage of all office-based physicians that have the capability to electronically search for a patient’s health information from sources outside their medical organization. Patient information includes lab results, patient problem lists, imaging reports, medication lists, medication allergy lists, discharge summaries, and other information identified by the physician.
pct_phys_send_any_clin_infoPercent of Physicians that Send Any Patient Clinical Information to Outside Providers // This measure estimates the percentage of all office-based physicians that electronically send patient health information to other providers outside of their medical organization, including public health agencies. Electronically sending does not include eFax, fax, or paper-based methods. Patient information includes lab results, patient problem lists, imaging reports, medication lists, medication allergy lists, discharge summaries, registry data, referrals, emergency department notification, and summary of care records for transitions of care or referrals.
pct_phys_send_summary_care_recordPercent of Physicians that Send Patient Summary of Care Records to Outside Providers // This measure estimates the percentage of all office-based physicians that electronically send summary of care records for transitions of care or referrals to other providers outside of their medical organization.
pct_phys_receive_any_clin_infoPercent of Physicians that Receive Any Patient Clinical Information from Outside Providers // This measure estimates the percentage of all office-based physicians that electronically receive patient health information from other providers outside of their medical organization, including public health agencies. Electronically receiving does not include eFax, fax, or paper-based methods. Patient information includes lab results, patient problem lists, imaging reports, medication lists, medication allergy lists, discharge summaries, registry data, referrals, emergency department notification, and summary of care records for transitions of care or referrals.
pct_phys_receive_summary_care_recordPercent of Physicians that Receive Patient Summary of Care Records from Outside Providers // This measure estimates the percentage of all office-based physicians that electronically receive summary of care records for transitions of care or referrals from other providers outside of their medical organization.
pct_phys_integrate_any_clin_infoPercent of Physicians with Capability to Integrate into an EHR Any Patient Clinical Information from Outside Providers // This measure estimates the percentage of all office-based physicians able to integrate patient health information received electronically from other providers outside of their medical organization. Electronically receiving does not include eFax, fax, or paper-based methods. Patient information includes lab results, patient problem lists, imaging reports, medication lists, medication allergy lists, discharge summaries, registry data, referrals, emergency department notification, and summary of care records for transitions of care or referrals.
pct_phys_integrate_summary_care_recordPercent of Physicians with Capability to Integrate into an EHR Summary of Care Records from Outside Providers // This measure estimates the percentage of all office-based physicians able to integrate summary of care records for transitions of care or referrals received electronically from other providers outside of their medical organization. Electronically receiving does not include eFax, fax, or paper-based methods.
pct_phys_info_availablePercent of Physicians with Information Available from Outside Providers // This measure estimates the percentage of all office-based physicians who, when treating patients seen by providers outside their medical organization, often have clinical information from outside encounters electronically available.
pct_phys_use_infoPercent of Physicians that Use Information from Outside Providers // This measure estimates the percentage of all office-based physicians who often or sometimes use patient health information electronically received from sources outside their organization when treating a patient.
pct_phys_search_vaxPercent of Physicians that Electronically Search for Vaccination Information from Outside Sources // This measure estimates the percentage of all office-based physicians who electronically search for vaccination or immunization history from outside sources.
pct_phys_search_scrPercent of Physicians that Electronically Search for Summary of Care Records from Outside Sources // This measure estimates the percentage of all office-based physicians who electronically search fo summary of care records from outside sources.
pct_phys_epcsPercent of Physicians that Electronically Prescribe Controlled Substances // This measure estimates the percentage of all office-based physicians who often or sometimes prescribe controlled substances electronically.
pct_phys_pdmpPercent of Physicians that Check State Prescription Drug Monitoring Program // This measure estimates the percentage of all office-based physicians who often or sometimes check the state prescription drug monitoring program prior to prescribing a controlled substance.
pct_phys_erxPercent of Physicians that Electronically Prescribe // This measure estimates the percentage of all office-based physicians who send prescriptions electronically.

Nonrespondents to the mail survey received follow-up telephone calls. The universe of surveyed physicians comprises those classified as providing direct patient care in office-based practices, as well as clinicians in community health centers. Radiologists, anesthesiologists, and pathologists are excluded.