Office-based Physician Electronic Patient Engagement Capabilities

Percent of physicians that have electronic capabilities to exchange secure messages with patients and for patients to view, download and transmit their online medical record

In 2015, 64% of physicians had an electronic health record (EHR) with the capability to exchange secure messages with patients, an over 50% increase since 2013. Furthermore, 63% of physicians had the capability for their patients to electronically view their medical record, 41% had the capability for patients to download their medical record, and 19% had the capability for patients to electronically send (transmit) their medical record to a third party. Together, 16% of all physicians had the capability to provide all three functionalities – view, download and transmit – to their patients.

In prior years, ONC reported physicians’ capability to provide patients any of these three abilities – the then requirement for health care professionals participating in the Medicare or Medicaid EHR Incentive Programs. In October 2015, CMS released a final rule that specifies criteria that eligible professionals, eligible hospitals and CAHs must meet in order to participate in the EHR Incentive Programs in 2015 through 2017 (Modified Stage 2) and in Stage 3 in 2017 and beyond. Beginning in 2015, health care professionals were required to demonstrate all three capabilities: view, download and transmit.