PEW July 27, 2021
Survey can inform federal policies to expand use of electronic health records, protect patient privacy
Overview
Americans’ medical histories have largely been digitized over the past two decades as hospitals and physician’s offices moved from paper-based to electronic health record (EHR) systems.1 Congress has invested billions of taxpayer dollars to accelerate this transition, authorizing federal rules to expand individuals’ access to their health records and to help clinicians share data and coordinate care for patients they have in common.2
To build on this progress, policymakers need to know how Americans perceive these issues and the extent to which they will embrace wider adoption of data exchange and access. Do patients want their personal health information made more accessible...