Technology Adoption Trends by Medical Practice Size

How does your practice’s technology use compare to other, similar-sized practices? To help you find out, we analyzed the results of Physicians Practice's2013 Technology Survey, Sponsored by ZirMed, to determine technology adoption trends by number of physicians within a practice. 

Here are some of the key findings based on the more than 1,200 survey responses we received:

SOLO PRACTICES
EHRs: About 50 percent of respondents from solo practices said they have a fully implemented EHR or are using one selected or provided by a hospital or corporate parent. Of the respondents who said they have an EHR, only half said they have successfully attested to the first stage of the government's EHR incentive program.
Patient Portals: About 40 percent of solo practice respondents said they use a portal. 
Facebook and Twitter: About a quarter of solo practice respondents said they use Facebook to communicate information about their practice, while only 5 percent said they use Twitter.
E-visits: One of every 10 respondents from solo practices said they use E-visits.
Mobile devices: Nearly 60 percent of solo practice respondents said they use a smartphone in practice, while 40 percent said they use an iPad or tablet.

PRACTICES WITH TWO TO FIVE PHYSICIANS
EHRs: Sixty four percent of respondents from these smaller practices said they have a fully implemented EHR or are using one selected or provided by a hospital or corporate parent. Of those respondents, about 63 percent said they have successfully attested to the first stage of the government's EHR incentive program.
Patient Portals: Forty two percent of respondents from practices of two to five physicians said they use a portal. 
Facebook and Twitter: About a quarter of respondents from practices of this size said they use Facebook to communicate information about their practice, while only 4 percent said they use Twitter.
E-visits: Only about 8 percent of respondents in these practices said they use E-visits.
Mobile devices: Nearly 48 percent of these respondents said they use a smartphone in practice, while 34 percent said they use an iPad or tablet.

PRACTICES WITH SIX TO 10 PHYSICIANS
EHRs: Sixty seven percent of respondents from these mid-sized practices said they have a fully implemented EHR or are using one selected or provided by a hospital or corporate parent.  Of those respondents, 64 percent said they have successfully attested to the first stage of the government's EHR incentive program.
Patient Portals: Nearly half of the respondents from practices of six to 10 physicians said they use a portal.
Facebook and Twitter: About a quarter of respondents from practices of this size said they use Facebook to communicate information about their practice, while only 6 percent said they use Twitter.
E-visits: One of every 10 respondents from practices of six to 10 physicians said they use E-visits.
Mobile devices: Fifty five percent of respondents in these practices said they use a smartphone in practice, while nearly 40 percent said they use an iPad or tablet.

PRACTICES WITH 11 TO 20 PHYSICIANS
EHRs: Seventy two percent of respondents from these mid-sized practices said they have a fully implemented EHR or are using one selected or provided by a hospital or corporate parent. Of those respondents, 70 percent said they have successfully attested to the first stage of the government's EHR incentive program.
Patient Portals: About half of respondents from practice of 11 to 20 physicians said they use a portal.
Facebook and Twitter: Nearly 30 percent of respondents in practices of this size said they use Facebook to communicate information about their practice, while 9 percent said they use Twitter.
E-visits: Twelve percent of these respondents said they use E-visits.
Mobile devices: Nearly 48 percent of respondents from these practices said they use a smartphone in practice, and nearly 30 percent said they use an iPad or tablet.

PRACTICES WITH 31 TO 50 PHYSICIANS
EHRs: Sixty five percent of respondents from these larger practices said they have a fully implemented EHR or are using one selected or provided by a hospital or corporate parent. Of those respondents, 53 percent said they have successfully attested to the first stage of the government's EHR incentive program.
Patient Portals: About half of respondents from practices of 31 to 50 physicians said they use a portal. 
Facebook and Twitter: About 30 percent of respondents from practices of this size said they use Facebook to communicate information about their practice, while 16 percent said they use Twitter.
E-visits: Nearly 20 percent of these respondents said they use E-visits.
Mobile devices: Nearly 60 percent of these respondents said they use a smartphone in practice, while 42 percent said they use an iPad or tablet.

PRACTICES WITH MORE THAN 50 PHYSICIANS
EHRs: Eighty five percent of respondents from these large practices said they have a fully implemented EHR or are using one selected or provided by a hospital or corporate parent. Of those respondents, 73 percent said they have successfully attested to the first stage of the government's EHR incentive program.
Patient Portals: The majority of these respondents (59 percent) said they use a portal. 
Facebook and Twitter: About 30 percent of respondents from practices of this size said they use Facebook to communicate information about their practice, while 8 percent said they use Twitter.
E-visits: Nearly 20 percent of respondents from these large practices said they use E-visits.
Mobile devices: Forty percent of these respondents said they use a smartphone in practice, while 35 percent said they use an iPad or tablet.

What do you think of the survey findings? Do they match up to what you would expect?