abstract
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: There are limited national data on pediatric
health information technology adoption rates. Our objective was to
determine pediatricians’ adoption rates of electronic health record systems
(EHRs), barriers to adoption, and features of the systems adopted.
METHODS: A survey of 1620 randomly selected US members of the
American Academy of Pediatrics from February to July 2009 addressed
use of EHRs and barriers to adoption. Bivariate analysis and logistic
regression were used to determine associations between EHR use and
various physician and practice characteristics.
RESULTS: Six hundred forty-six postresidency pediatric clinicians
practicing in office- or clinic-based settings responded (57.2%). Selfreported
electronic medical record/EHR use was 54%/41%, but far
fewer used systems that met the definition of a basic (25%) or fully
functional (6%) EHR. Only 3% used a system that was fully functional
and pediatric-supportive. Pediatricians practicing in multispecialty
practices and those in hospital-based practices were more likely to
use basic or fully functional EHRs than those in solo/2-physician
practices. More than half of respondents reported financial barriers to
implementing EHRs, and more than one-third were concerned about
whether systems could meet their needs and whether an EHR would
affect productivity.
CONCLUSIONS: Pediatric adoption of fully functional EHRs lags general
adoption. Barriers to adoption include financial and productivity concerns,
but pediatricians are also concerned about finding systems that
meet their needs. Few pediatricians use a system that is pediatricsupportive.
To help identify pediatric-supportive systems, EHR certification
efforts should include these requirements. Pediatrics 2012;130:e1441–
e1446