Dive Brief:
- Most healthcare consumers are unhappy with the way their health information is stored and shared, according to a survey of more than 1,000 American adults from Surescripts.
- The vast majority of patients want their medical information to be stored electronically and in one location.
- Most patients are tired of repeating the same information to providers at each visit, both on forms and verbally. They feel they should only have to complete medical history forms the first time they visit a practitioner.
Dive Insight:
Despite the growth in technologies enabling patients to access health data, patients are becoming less satisfied with the healthcare experience. The survey underscores the need for greater interoperability, something the federal government has indicated it wants to work toward now most providers have an EHR system.
The survey, conducted by Kelton Global for Surescripts, indicates patients spend an average of 8 minutes during each visit reviewing their medical history with a provider and another 8 minutes filling out forms. The majority of these patients (93%) feel that having their medication history in one location would save time for their doctors, and an overwhelming 98% want someone to have access to their entire record.
Respondents indicated that the availability of centralized medical records is not only an issue of convenience for them, but of safety. When a doctor lacks access to a patient’s complete medication history, 90% of the respondents say lives are at stake. A similar number feel that having their medication history stored in a single location would reduce the chance of their doctor prescribing the wrong medication.
Already, respondents report being less likely to visit a physician who relies on paper prescriptions. To be competitive, physicians will need to be more efficient, explore health data storage options that both patients and physicians can access, and be prepared to offer telemedicine services.