AHA Reports: Electronic Access to Health Information Continues to Climb
Hospitals and health systems continue to enhance their ability to electronically share essential patient information with health care providers and engage patients in their health care, according to two TrendWatch reports released today by the AHA. Nearly all hospital patients (93%) can view information from their health record online, up from 27% in 2012, although larger hospitals continue to be able to offer greater access and functionality than smaller hospitals. In addition, 74% of hospitals and health systems could electronically share clinical or summary of care records with hospitals outside of their system when surveyed between November 2016 and April 2017, up from 68% in 2015 and 30% in 2012, among other progress. The reports are the first in a series that will focus on the latest findings from the AHA Annual Survey Information Technology Supplement.