Health IT Research & Analysis
Quick Stats

Percent of Hospitals, By Type, that Possess Certified Health IT

Last Updated

June 2026

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In 2010, less than one year after the HITECH Act was passed, 1 in 3 non-federal acute care hospitals had adopted a fully electronic system to track patient records. Another 50% of hospitals had adopted a partially electronic system, meaning 50% of hospitals relied on a mix of paper-based and electronic methods to track patient records. The remainder of hospitals (14%) only used paper to track records.

This varied by hospital characteristics. Although hospitals of all types used a partially electronic system at the same rate (53%), 43% of large hospitals (those with 300 or more beds) adopted a fully electronic system, compared to 26% of small hospitals (those with 100 or fewer beds). Small hospitals were also more likely to only use paper in 2010 (20%) compared to large hospitals (<5%). We observe a similar gap between rural and urban-based hospitals in 2010, as well.

Percent of Non-federal Acute Care Hospitals that adopted a Fully or Partially Electronic System, 2010
wdt_ID wdt_created_by wdt_created_at wdt_last_edited_by wdt_last_edited_at Year Hospital Type Fully Electronic (%) Partially Electronic (%) Paper only (%)
1 wbarker 30/04/2026 12:55 PM wbarker 30/04/2026 12:55 PM 2010 All 33.10 53.10 13.80
2 wbarker 30/04/2026 12:55 PM wbarker 30/04/2026 12:55 PM 2010 Small 26.40 53.70 19.90
3 wbarker 30/04/2026 12:55 PM wbarker 30/04/2026 12:55 PM 2010 Medium 38.40 52.20 9.40
4 wbarker 30/04/2026 12:55 PM wbarker 30/04/2026 12:55 PM 2010 Large 42.80 53.70 3.50
5 wbarker 30/04/2026 12:55 PM wbarker 30/04/2026 12:55 PM 2010 Rural 27.40 55.10 17.50
6 wbarker 30/04/2026 12:55 PM wbarker 30/04/2026 12:55 PM 2010 Urban 37.60 51.50 10.90

Beginning in 2011, hospitals began to adopt health information technology certified by HHS through the ONC Health Certification Program. As shown in the Health IT Quick Stat, “Non-federal Acute Care Hospital EHR Adoption“, hospitals began to adopt certified EHRs at high rates as EHRs were certified and incentives via the EHR Incentive Program were paid to hospitals to adopt certified technology. In 2018, nearly all hospitals (99%) had adopted a certified EHR, with similar rates across all hospital characteristics. As of 2024, EHR adoption is statistically the same across all hospitals with no significant gaps across hospital size and between rural and urban hospitals — a significant change from 2010, when large differences were apparent.

Percent of Non-federal Acute Care Hospitals that adopted a Certified EHR, 2018-2024
wdt_ID wdt_created_by wdt_created_at wdt_last_edited_by wdt_last_edited_at Year Hospital Type Certified (%)
1 wbarker 30/04/2026 10:46 AM wbarker 30/04/2026 10:46 AM 2018 All 99.00
2 wbarker 30/04/2026 10:46 AM wbarker 30/04/2026 10:46 AM 2018 Small 98.90
3 wbarker 30/04/2026 10:46 AM wbarker 30/04/2026 10:46 AM 2018 Medium 99.20
4 wbarker 30/04/2026 10:46 AM wbarker 30/04/2026 10:46 AM 2018 Large 99.80
5 wbarker 30/04/2026 10:46 AM wbarker 30/04/2026 10:46 AM 2018 Rural 98.80
6 wbarker 30/04/2026 10:46 AM wbarker 30/04/2026 10:46 AM 2018 Urban 99.30
7 wbarker 30/04/2026 10:46 AM wbarker 30/04/2026 10:46 AM 2024 All 99.40
8 wbarker 30/04/2026 10:46 AM wbarker 30/04/2026 10:46 AM 2024 Small 99.30
9 wbarker 30/04/2026 10:46 AM wbarker 30/04/2026 10:46 AM 2024 Medium 99.70
10 wbarker 30/04/2026 10:46 AM wbarker 30/04/2026 10:46 AM 2024 Large 99.70
11 wbarker 30/04/2026 10:46 AM wbarker 30/04/2026 10:46 AM 2024 Rural 99.50
12 wbarker 30/04/2026 10:46 AM wbarker 30/04/2026 10:46 AM 2024 Urban 99.50

Statistics are weighted and reflect >50% response rate among all U.S. non-federal acute care hospitals in each survey year.

How do we define and measure an “EHR”? 

The charts and table reflect different measures of EHR adoption over time – “Fully electronic”, “Partially electronic”, and “Certified”. The trends reflect distinct ways EHR adoption was measured for the given year, described in more detail below. 

The term “EHR” has changed in meaning over the years. In plain language, ONC defines an EHR as “a digital version of a patient’s paper chart. It contains health information collected and maintained by healthcare providers over time. It’s a comprehensive, longitudinal record of a patient’s health history, including diagnoses, lab results, medications, physician notes, and more, accessible to authorized healthcare professionals (https://healthit.gov/health-it-basics/benefits-ehrs/).” 

Early data collection and measurement from 2008-2012 tracked whether hospitals used fully or partially electronic systems to maintain patient medical records, indicating whether hospitals had eliminated paper record keeping. ONC also formally measured the percent of hospitals that adopted an EHR certified by the Health IT Certification Program. The different measures, taken together, show a broad and detailed picture of the rapid digitization of US hospitals, where nearly all patient care is now electronically documented, information can be shared electronically, and key diagnostic tests and results can be viewed at the point of care.

Definitions 

Fully electronic system: A medical or health record system that is fully electronic and excludes systems solely for billing. 

Partially electronic system: A medical or health record system that is partially electronic and excludes systems solely for billing. 

Certified EHR: Hospitals have adopted a certified electronic health record system if the EHR technology meets the technological capability, functionality, and security requirements adopted by the Department of Health and Human Services. 

Hospitals: Non-federal acute care hospital. 

Large: hospital with 300 or more beds.

Medium: hospital with 100 to 299 beds.

Small: hospital with less than 100 beds.

Urban: hospital in CBSA metropolitan areas

Rural: hospital in CBSA non-metropolitan areas.