A Snapshot of EHR Use in Small Primary Care Practices (Text Description)

EvidenceNOW regional cooperatives worked with more than 1,500 small- and medium-sized primary care practices to improve heart health. Cooperatives assessed practices’ electronic health record (EHR) and data capabilities, which are in the related infographic at the start of the EvidenceNOW initiative. Nearly all participating practices used EHRs, and a large number of EHR vendors were represented within and across cooperatives. Practices received EHR support from a variety of organizations, and their ability to share data varied. Cooperatives worked with practices to provide health information technology support as part of the five quality improvement services offered through the initiative.

The EvidenceNOW Quality Improvement Services Included:

• On-site practice facilitation and coaching.
• Health IT support.
• Shared learning collaboratives.
• Expert consultation.
• Data feedback and benchmarking.

Use of EHRs Before EvidenceNOW

Before EvidenceNOW:

• 93 percent of primary care practices used EHRs.
• 82 percent had an Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology (ONC))-certified HER.
• 27 percent had 3 or fewer years of experience with an EHR.
• A total of 68 unique EHR systems were used across EvidenceNOW (32 for one regional cooperative alone).

What Could Practices Do with Their EHRs Before EvidenceNOW?

Before EvidenceNOW:

• 79 percent of practices incorporated lab results to generate reports.
• 71 percent reported quality measures at the practice level.
• 72 percent reported quality measures at the clinician level.

In relation to use of EHRs for heart health:

• 42 percent produced quality measure reports on aspirin.
• 55 percent produced quality measure reports on blood pressure control.
• 59 percent produced quality measure reports on smoking cessation.

What Types of Organizations Provided EHR Support to Practices Before EvidenceNOW?

Of the organizations and networks providing EHR support before EvidenceNOW:

• 29 percent were health information exchanges.
• 15 percent were health system practice networks.
• 20 percent were clinical data warehouses.
• 23 percent were hospital networks.
• 9 percent were regional extension centers.
• 11 percent were practice-based research networks.
• 12 percent were external consulting groups.
• 15 percent were primary care associations.

Did EvidenceNOW Practices Use EHRs to share Data and Monitor Quality?

• 34 percent often discussed their data as a team.
• 32 percent never discussed their data as a team.
• 63 percent electronically shared patient health information with other providers or organizations.

For more information about EvidenceNOW, visit www.ahrq.gov/EvidenceNOW.