With health information technology becoming increasingly important for health care providers, as legislatively mandated deadlines for proficiency and implementation loom, a report released Thursday shows the medical community is becoming more tech savvy.
According to the 2014 Massachusetts eHealth Institute Provider and Consumer Health IT Research Study, the adoption of Health Information Technology among Massachusetts primary care and specialty care providers is progressing well, with an electronic health records (EHR) adoption rate of more than 90 percent.
But the study pointed out that EHR adoption needs to be increased in sectors such as behavioral health and long-term and post-acute care.
The report said that by January 1, 2015, demonstrating IT proficiency will be a requirement for renewal of a physician’s license. By 2017, all providers are required to fully implement systems EHR systems that communicate between providers via the Massachusetts Health Information Highway, a secure network for medical practitioners and facilities.
