The CDC released its first national estimates of how office-based physicians are electronically sharing patient health information with other providers Aug. 15.
The agency based its estimates on the 2015 National Health Records Survey conducted by the CDC's National Center for Health Statistics, which covered EHR adoption and use of an estimated 10,302 physicians.
Physicians most commonly shared referrals data (67.9 percent), laboratory results (67.2 percent) and medication lists (65.1 percent) with other providers. Similarly, the most common protected health information physicians received were laboratory results (78.8 percent), imaging reports (60.8 percent) and medication lists (54.4 percent).
Among physicians who integrated PHI electronically, most integrated laboratory results (73.2 percent), followed by imaging reports (49.8 percent) and hospital discharge summaries (48.7 percent).
When searching for PHI electronically, physicians most often retrieved medication lists (90.2 percent), medication allergy lists (88.2 percent) and hospital discharge summaries (80.4 percent).
CDC notes this research could be used to inform work on EHR interoperability.
"Having this information is a next step for research on EHR interoperability because it provides insight into the type of PHI electronically shared among office-based physicians," the report states. "Combined with measures of electronic sharing of PHI by physicians, information on the specific type of PHI shared electronically among office-based physicians will assist in tracking progress outlined in the federal plan for achieving interoperability."
To download the complete report, click here.