10 EHR statistics you should know — plus tips for choosing the right system

Electronic health record (EHR) systems and electronic medical records (EMRs) are critical for independent practices and healthcare organizations. At their best, these systems give physicians the tools and data to manage their practice so they can focus their time and energy on patient care. 

Many physicians recognize that EHRs have valuable potential, and importance as digital health and ehealth technology. But many also face design, customization, and configuration challenges with their EHRs. These challenges can contribute to inefficiencies at best and patient harm at worst.

Tebra surveyed 183 independent office-based physicians across 6 specialties to understand their concerns and challenges. Overall, we found that providers are dissatisfied with their current EHRs and want substantial improvements. 

So what do you need to know about EHR adoption and finding the best one to support your practice and your patients? Here are 10 EHR stats to keep in mind — and actionable tips to help you in your search.

EMRs and EHRs have come a long way since their origin in the 1960s. In 2009, The Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health (HITECH) Act was introduced and launched the "Meaningful Use" program — which offered EHR incentives to boost EHR adoption rates.

But 32% of those Tebra surveyed wouldn’t recommend their current electronic health record to other providers, while more than 60% would readily switch systems.

Healthcare providers described their current EHRs as:

Tip:

Research the EHR market. Book consultations with EHR vendors whose systems provide robust features that protect patient information, enhance patient care, and streamline operations. Evaluate each EHR based on its ability to deliver in the following key areas:

Use of electronic health records will always require training first for successful implementation. But training also takes time, effort, and resources, which not all practices can afford. This could create a barrier to EHR success.

It’s no wonder then that 4 in 10 of the respondents to Tebra’s survey highlighted staff training as the most significant challenge they face with the use of EHRs.

There’s also a general lack of satisfaction with the support from their current EHR vendors. Only 6% of respondents reported being completely satisfied with their vendor’s support.

Tip:

Before adoption of electronic health records: 

Healthcare providers Tebra surveyed rated patient scheduling (75%) as the most critical integration capability. The next most important EHR integration was billing and invoicing (72%), which are critical for efficiency, productivity, and profitability.

Tip:

Consider switching to a complete EHR platform that offers a suite of tools and functionalities for clinical, billing, and patient engagement. Tebra offers EHR, telehealth, billing, patient scheduling, feedback, and much more, all in one platform. 

In 2018, Stanford Medicine polled doctors about EHRs. 67% of physicians cited solving interoperability deficiencies as the top priority for EHRs in the next decade. 

Yet in 2024, 69% of providers still sometimes, often, or almost always encounter significant interoperability issues between their EHR and other practices and healthcare systems. These challenges with exchanging healthcare data can hamper coordination of care, which results in poor health outcomes.

Tips: 

For practices with existing EHRs, 65% report a desire to switch because they’re dissatisfied with their current system. Of these, 65% would switch EHRs to save money, 60% would switch for enhanced functionality, and 54% would switch for a better user experience. 

Similarly, practices considering a switch often do so in response to changes in their business, like adding new medical specialties or providers. Such changes require a more feature-rich and adaptable EHR that ensures operational efficiency across services and can accommodate growth.

Tip:

When looking for an EHR system, look for one that is ONC-certified — meaning it meets the technological capability, functionality, and security requirements adopted by the United States’ Department of Health and Human Services’ (HHS).

The HHS oversees the Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology (ONC) and it is the department responsible for advancing the adoption and use of health information technology (health IT) across the country. Visit www.healthit.gov/topic/certification-ehrs/certification-health-it for more details.

A modern system, like Tebra — an all-in-one platform built for small practices — can support you in your initiatives to enhance efficiency and create convenience in all areas of your practice operations, helping you deliver better care and improve profitability.

If your current system lacks mobile access, you may be using a basic EHR and find that it’s time for an upgrade. 40% of providers in Tebra’s survey say mobile access is extremely important. 

Most modern EHRs offer mobile access, helping clinicians improve documentation, efficiency, and medical decision-making. Plus, they reduce the total time physicians spend logging into workstations and increase time with patients.

Tip:

Consider an EHR that offers desktop and mobile access. One such example is Tebra, which has a mobile app packed with features that help you manage your practice on the go and improve patient communication.  

On top of mobile access, look for EHRs with cutting-edge features — such as ones that use artificial intelligence — to make processes more efficient. 

Some providers report spending time in their EHR that they could spend with patients instead. According to Medscape’s Physicians and Electronic Health Records 2023 report, physicians reported EHR-system-driven improvements in managing treatment plans and swiftly responding to patient issues. But they also said that their patient face time and patient counts worsened in an EHR environment.

For 75% of Tebra’s survey respondents, EHRs eat away at the time they’d have spent providing better patient care, with 35% spending 30 minutes to 1 hour on average on tasks within their EHR. 

A study published in JAMA found physicians spend at least 5 hours working in the EHR for every 8 hours scheduled with patients, resulting in high physician burnout.

Tip:

Transitioning to a modern EHR with automation capabilities, voice recognition, mobile access, and easy-to-use interfaces can reduce administrative tasks and enhance physician efficiency.

Over a third of providers prefer more flexible, all-in-one EHRs for integrated practice operations. Also known as complete EHRs, these platforms are purpose-built to drive practice success and modernize the patient journey. 

Tip: 

If you’re looking for an all-in-one solution for clinical, billing, and patient engagement,  consider getting a complete EHR system. It may include extra features — which increase the cost — and have a steeper learning curve, but the benefits significantly outweigh any costs and drawbacks. 

Complete EHRs integrate all necessary functionalities and reduce the complexity of and potential errors with managing multiple systems. Moreover, having a single complete EHR system enhances efficiency, freeing you up to focus more on patient care than administrative work.

Nearly half (45%) of providers surveyed want usability and customization in an EHR. 

They face usability issues, like difficult navigation, poor interface design, lack of customization, slow performance, and inefficient patient data entry in their current EHRs. They want a better user experience.

Tip:

Evaluate each candidate EHR platform based on usability and functionality. Determine if the system offers robust features that streamline operations and enhance patient care. It should deliver in these key areas:

Poor EHR usability is the number one complaint of most healthcare professionals, according to an EHR performance study published in JAMA. The study also shows EHRs that are difficult to use are less likely to catch medical errors that could harm patients. 

12% of providers in Tebra's survey also consider their EHR moderately difficult to use.

Tip:

Narrow down the pool of potential vendors to a selection of 5–10 and see whether you can get a free trial or guided product demo. This will give you a no-commitment opportunity to see whether the EHR might fit your practice rather than simply reading a list of its features.

Selecting the right EHR system is a key decision that impacts daily operations, long-term success, and sustainability for independent practices — and boosts public health overall.

Combating electronic health record system challenges requires a substantial time commitment, preparation, research, and strategic evaluation of potential options and vendors.