Ehr 1

“National Survey to Measure Adoption of Electronic Health Records among Physicians & Group Practices.”

What is the survey about?

The survey is being used to help understand how medical practices come to decide to use or not use electronic health record (EHR) systems. EHR has the potential to improve the quality of health-care delivery in the United States by reducing medical error and the costs of delivering health care by allowing for careful monitoring of health system usage. However, many practical obstacles stand in the way of using these technologies and we would like to quantify both the barriers and facilitators to ERH adoption and use.

Who is conducting the study?

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has provided grant funding to Massachusetts General Hospital and George Washington University to design this study and analyze the data. RTI International, a not-for-profit research institute, has been hired to collect the data.

How do I participate?

You can respond in either of two ways. We have enclosed two business reply envelopes, so that both a physician and office staff can complete and return the forms separately. You also have the option of completing by web at the web site (insert URL). Two log ins are provided so that the physician who was selected for the survey can complete both parts, or finish the first part and ask a staff member complete the other portion. This way the staff person can answer part of the survey without being able to see the doctor’s answers.

Who is eligible to participate?

We have sampled approximately 5000 physicians in the United States with out-patient practices. Most of the questions apply directly to physicians; however, a part of the survey is made to be answered either by the physician or knowledgeable office staff.

Is confidentiality protected?

All information that would permit anyone to identify you or your practice will be kept in strict confidence and destroyed once data collection is complete. Only statistical information will be reported. None of the questions ask about the care you provide to individual patients.

Am I obliged to participate?

Your participation is voluntary. You may skip any questions with which you are uncomfortable. Your participation will have no effects on any licensure or reimbursements that you receive through the U.S. Government. However, you were selected to help ensure that the research is statistically valid. You are vital to the success of the project and cannot be replaced.

Whom should I contact if I have any questions?

If you have questions concerning your rights as a research subject, please call the Office for Research Protection at RTI International toll-free at 866-214-2043. If you have any questions or want to know more about the study or to find out about reports that are generated from this data collection effort, please call RTI’s project director, Dr. John D. Loft, toll free at 800-EHR-0000.