WESTBOROUGH, Mass.– Anoto announced the results of a survey focusing on the state of paperwork in the healthcare industry. Survey results confirm that despite the growing numbers of organizations implementing electronic health records (EHR) systems, many are not decreasing their reliance on paper-based processes. For example, well over half of the respondents say that paper is still a primary source for tracking information within their organizations’ daily activities, citing reasons such as:
• Paper is too embedded in the culture;
• Technology adoption is too expensive; and
• Switching to an electronic system requires too much training and would disrupt care delivery.
Additionally, survey respondents predict that the paperwork burden will increase with the implementation of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA).
Some of the other key findings from the survey include:
Paperwork is King:
63 percent of respondents said they spend anywhere from 25 percent to more than 75 percent of their time at work drafting or processing paperwork.
A significant majority – almost 80 percent – are still using paper records, despite either having or currently implementing an EHR system.
78 percent of respondents believe the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA) will either increase the amount of paperwork they will have to deal with or it will, at best, stay the same.
EHR Technology Improves Patient Care:
As healthcare continues to move towards EHR adoption, there is consensus that ultimately this technology will benefit the industry, patients and the quality of patient care in the long-term. Almost 90 percent of survey respondents with an active EHR system believe an EHR system improves patient care.
Interest in Digitizing Paper-Based Processes is High:
Respondents were asked (on a scale of 1-10 with 10 being the highest) if they would be interested in using a solution that would allow them to digitize information instantly while still using the paper forms they have always used. Nearly 50 percent of respondents rated their interest as an 8 or higher.
“The survey results are clear: healthcare remains a paper-driven industry and will likely stay that way for the foreseeable future,” said Pietro Parravicini, senior vice president area manager Americas for Anoto.
About the Survey
Anoto conducted an online survey, with responses from professionals at healthcare organizations of various sizes. The survey, conducted in January 2012, included responses from physicians, nurses, executive/administrative, IT professionals and CIOs from hospitals (including emergency rooms), ambulatory care facilities, home healthcare organizations, and long-term care facilities. Questions focused on the circumstances where paper is being used and methods currently being employed to get information digitized and into EHR systems.
