In ever growing numbers, physicians are embracing electronic health records (EHR) and incorporating more sophisticated technology into their practices, according to a recent report to Congress. The report from the Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology (ONC) said 72 percent of office-based physicians were using an EHR system in 2012, compared to only 48 percent in 2009. Physicians have also increased their EHR functionality, with 80 percent having EHRs with computerized provider order entry for medication orders in 2012, compared to 65 percent in 2011, and 67 percent having EHRs with drug interaction checks, compared to 51 percent in 2011.

Through April 2013, ONC said over 291,000 health care professionals (representing over half of eligible professionals) and over 3,800 hospitals (representing roughly 80 percent of eligible hospitals) have received payments under the Medicare and Medicaid EHR Incentive Program. The EHR Incentive Program offers a financial reward to providers for adopting and making meaningful use of an EHR system. CMS has made nearly $15 billion in EHR incentive payments as of June.

While EHR adoption has been steady, ONC identified a few barriers, including the cost of an EHR system, time and effort spent selecting an EHR system, and annual maintenance costs.