Electronic Medical Record Use among US Occupational Medicine Physicians: A National Survey

OBJECTIVE: To examine the use of electronic medical records (EMRs) among US occupational medicine physicians (OMPs). METHODS: An electronic- and paper-based survey was conducted among OMPs using an anonymous self-administered questionnaire. RESULTS: The OMPs reported using an EMR for billing purposes only (14.6%), clinical purposes only (27.8%), or both (39.3%) with the total EMR use of 81.7%. About 60% were satisfied with their EMRs, and 64% to 66% believed that EMRs improve safety and quality of medical care. Among OMPs not using EMR, 17% reported that they were likely to adopt an EMR in the year after the survey, whereas 47% were very unlikely to do so. CONCLUSIONS: Occupational physiciansÊ use of EMRs was relatively high. They also seemed to be satisfied with their EMRs and believed that EMRs improve both safety and quality of clinical care.