Survey Results: Medical Students View EHRs as 'Priority' in Future Work Lives

Nine out of 10 medical students declare that an electronic health record, or EHR, system will be a key part of their future medical practices. That finding, which is from survey data released by San Mateo, Calif.-based Epocrates Inc., puts students squarely in the same camp as many family physicians, who already have a fully implemented EHR system in their practice or are in the process of implementing one.

According to a press release from Epocrates, the fourth annual Future Physicians of America survey of 1,005 medical students who use the company's mobile software found that medical students view EHRs as a priority in their future work lives. In fact, 90 percent said it is "important" or "very important" to have an EHR system wherever they decide to practice.

That perception, said Jason Mitchell, M.D., assistant director of the AAFP's Center for Health IT, is a logical outgrowth of what these students are experiencing in their academic lives.

"Many medical students and residents have access to clinical information systems in their training programs and first-hand opportunity to see the information management and process efficiencies that can be achieved through effective use of electronic health records and other (health) IT," Mitchell told AAFP News Now. "The national priority on EHR, starting back in 2004, is also impacting students' perceptions of (health) IT and its role in their future practices."

The center's director, Steven Waldren, M.D., agreed that the Epocrates survey results should come as no surprise. "When I speak with residents and students, they all talk about only joining a group that already has an EHR," he said.

Fortunately for these physicians-in-training, the number of such groups continues to grow. According to data compiled by the Center for Health IT, more than half (53 percent) of Academy members surveyed in 2008 about EHR implementation indicated they were in the process of implementing an EHR system or already had a fully implemented EHR system in their practices.

"We have seen a steady increase, since 2003, in the number of AAFP members and family medicine training programs using electronic health record systems at the point of care," said Mitchell. However, he acknowledged that for some practices, the process of finding a system with the right combination of usability, interoperability, affordability and general functionality has proved challenging.

"Some practices have been through two or three systems in the last six years trying to find the right fit," Mitchell said. "Some have deinstalled expensive systems and gone back to paper charts and transcription."

But others, he said, have cut overhead, increased the quality of care they provide, and enhanced patient and provider satisfaction.

And that, according to Mitchell, represents an obvious draw for physicians-in-training.

"The key recruiting tool for any practice is a supportive environment in which to connect with patients and provide great care," he said. "EHR systems are becoming an increasingly necessary part of that ideal care environment."

Even so, said Mitchell, when it comes to deciding on a future practice environment, there's probably merit in keeping all options open.

"I would like to think that EHRs could be effective recruiting tools, but I would also like to think that new physicians could bring new technology and approaches to the practices they join."