The ONC has released the latest data available of health IT adoption and use, broken down in a state-by-state format. Here are four findings on which states have achieved the highest levels of EHR adoption, health information exchange, interoperability and patient engagement.
1. Ninety-six percent of hospitals nationwide have adopted an EHR, and 49 states have at least 81 percent of hospitals using EHRs. Utah is the state with the lowest percentage of hospitals that have adopted EHRs, at 75 percent.
2. The percent of hospitals exchanging summary of care records with outside providers is more varied. Nationally, 76 percent of hospitals have this capability. In 18 states, at least 81 percent of hospitals have this capability. The three states with the lowest percentage of hospitals that can exchange summary of care records are South Dakota (51 percent), Arizona (55 percent) and Louisiana (59 percent).
3. This data set defines interoperability as electronically finding patient health information from outside providers. Fifty-two percent of hospitals nationwide are able to do so. Those with the highest percentage of hospitals interoperating are Alaska (89 percent), Maryland (86 percent), Rhode Island (85 percent) and Delaware (83 percent). New Mexico had the lowest percent of hospitals interoperating, at 13 percent.
4. The percentage of hospitals nationwide offering patients the ability to electronically view, download and transmit their health information is 69 percent. The states with the highest percentage of hospitals doing this are Alaska (89 percent), Alabama (89 percent), Virginia (87 percent), Maryland (84 percent), New Jersey (83 percent), Vermont (83 percent), Florida (82 percent) and Washington, D.C. (82 percent).
The data was collected from the American Hospital Association Annual Survey Technology Supplement. Click here to view the full dashboard.
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