New Data for Researchers

New NCHS Report on Physician Use of Electronic Medical Records in 2006

The National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS) released a new report, “Electronic Medical Record Use by Office-Based Physicians and Their Practices: United States, 2006.” This publication provides the latest estimates of the adoption of clinical health information technology among office-based physicians and medical practices. In 2006, 29.2 percent of physicians fully or partially used electronic medical record (EMR) systems, a 60 percent increase since 2001. This trend may continue in the future.  Among physicians currently without EMR systems, 25.3 percent plan to install a new system within the next three years.  An additional 17.7 percent are considering new systems.

NCHS began tracking adoption of comprehensive EMR systems by office-based physicians in 2005. A comprehensive system was defined as one that, at a minimum, includes computerized prescription and test order entry functions, and the ability to see test results and clinical notes electronically.  Although an increase in EMR use in any form was observed between 2005 and 2006, no increase was observed in comprehensive systems during this time. The report may be accessed at: http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/ad/ad393.pdf.

The data included in this report will be available to the public as part of the 2006 National Ambulatory Medical Care Survey (NAMCS). NAMCS collects data from a national probability sample of office-based physicians. Data are collected about physicians, their patients, and the services they deliver.  NAMCS public use data files are currently available for the years 1973-1981, 1985, and 1989-2005 at: http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/about/major/ahcd/ahcd1.htm#Micro-data.

For more information about the National Health Care Surveys, please visit www.cdc.gov/nchs/nhcs.htm.


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