Results of a national survey conducted by Harris Interactive (Rochester, New York) and commissioned by McKesson (San Francisco) reveal that hospitals are likely to play a key role in the adoption of electronic health records (EHRs) by physicians. In a survey of primary care physicians and specialists, more than seven in 10 who plan to implement EHRs said they would be receptive to working with a local hospital to leverage its IT infrastructure and buying power. The same survey showed that three-quarters of the nation's physicians plan to adopt EHRs, with 91% planning to do so within three years.

Tom Leonard, McKesson's vice president and general manager of ambulatory solutions. “Physicians want to focus on practicing medicine, not on maintaining complex healthcare IT systems. Meanwhile, hospitals in their communities have been investing in systems for years. Many already have the systems and technology expertise to connect local physicians with one another, payors, patients and other providers for better continuity of care - and ultimately, greater safety.”

Leonard noted that physicians ranked clinical benefits of EHRs higher than financial factors, and 80% ranked “coordination of care across care settings” as the No. 1 benefit of an EHR; 52% indicated that the system will save their practice money in the long run.

McKesson is a healthcare services and information technology company.