Survey shows US appetite for personal electronic records

A US survey has revealed strong support for the concept of personal electronic health records, with those polled seeing them as a way to improve quality and reduce healthcare costs.

However, the report also showed that the Americans surveyed have serious concerns over the privacy and confidentiality of their medical records and rely on the government to protect their records when they become electronic.

The survey was commissioned by the US Connecting for Health organisation, a public-private collaboration of more than 100 organisations, operated by the Markle Foundation research organisation to examine public opinion towards electronic personal health records.

Nine in 10 Americans (89%) would want to look over their medical records if they could, and two-thirds (65%) are interested in accessing records online. A total of 1,003 people were surveyed.

Some 97% said it’s important for their doctors to be able to access all of an individual patient’s medical record in order "to provide the best care"; while 96% said it’s important for individuals to be able to access "all of their own medical records to manage their own health".

Markle Foundation president, Zoë Baird, said: “Americans understand that quality of care could improve and costs decrease when their health information is available over the internet to them and those who care for them. And they are clearly ready to do their part to improve our health care system.”

Carol Diamond,Markle Foundation Health Program managing director, added: “It is encouraging to see that so many Americans recognise the opportunity to improve their health care – and their own health – by accessing and using their health information. People not only want to see their medical records, they want to use the information to communicate with their doctors and be more involved in managing their care.”

According to Connecting for Health the survey results indicate that the public feels that access to electronic personal health records would have a number of personal benefits that could improve quality of care, such as improving doctor-patient communication, avoiding medical errors, and reducing repeated tests and procedures.

Eight in ten respondents (80%) say they are very concerned about identity theft or fraud, and this is particularly worrisome for those in fair or poor health (87%). A large proportion of the public (77%) are very concerned about information getting into the hands of marketers.

Those surveyed also said they were very concerned about employers (56%) and health insurers (53%) gaining access to their information.

Baird commented: “Consumers also have significant privacy concerns which must be addressed if we are to have sufficient consumer confidence to support a national commitment to electronic health records. People expect the federal government to establish rules that protect electronic personal health information from being used inappropriately.”

Markle Foundation Health Program director, David Lansky, added: “Despite the overwhelming interest in being more active participants in their own health care, and having their medical information available online to themselves and their physicians, Americans have very serious concerns about the privacy and security of their medical information.

“People want to have control over whether their data are used for non-medical purposes and expect the government to establish rules that will protect them.”

The findings will be released in full at the Connecting Americans to their healthcare conference in Washington DC this month, and will be followed by a white paper designed to stimulate national discussion on the use of information technology to meet the critical needs of consumers, patients, and their families.