55 percent of physicians used an EHR system in 2011

Fifty-five percent of office-based physicians were using electronic health records in 2011, according to a survey by the National Center for Health Statistics. 

The data is from the 2011 Physician Workflow mail survey.  Key findings include:

• About three-quarters of physicians who have adopted an EHR system reported that their system meets federal "meaningful use" criteria.
• Eighty-five percent of physicians who have adopted an EHR system reported being somewhat (47%) or very (38%) satisfied with their system.
• About three-quarters of adopters reported that using their EHR system resulted in enhanced patient care.
• Nearly one-half of physicians currently without an EHR system plan to purchase or use one already purchased within the next year. 

(Sources: AHA News Now, http://www.ahanews.com/, July 19, 2012; NCHS data brief, http://www.cdc.gov/, July, 2012)