Use of Electronic Medical Records by Ambulatory Care Providers: United States, 2006

Policymakers’ interest in the progress of health information technology (HIT) adoption by health care providers has increased since 2004, when the federal government set the goal that most Americans would have electronic health records (EHRs) by 2014 (1). The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) of 2009 may accelerate the pace of EHR adoption by health care providers, because it includes funding to promote the adoption and use of EHR systems (2). Starting in 2011, physicians who can demonstrate meaningful use of interoperable systems may receive extra Medicare payments over 5 years (2).