Are electronic medical records associated with improved perceptions of the quality of medical records, working conditions, or quality of working life?

Abstract

The purposes of this study were to determine if users of electronic medical records (EMRs) perceived their medical records to be of higher quality than users of paper records and to examine the relationship between EMR use and perceptions of working conditions, quality of worklife and quality of care among family physicians. To do so, a cross-sectional survey of family physicians (n = 1482) was conducted. Survey items included measurement of use of an EMR, perceptions of medical records, working conditions, job satisfaction, and quality of care. One hundred and forty-three physicians (23%) reported using EMRs. Physicians who used EMRs were significantly more satisfied with the quality of their medical records. EMR use was not related to other outcomes. While EMR users value their record systems higher than non-users value the traditional system, EMR systems do not appear to directly impact the other variables. Indirect relationships are suspected and should be tested.