Perceptions of Electronic Health Records and Their Effect on the Quality of Care: Results from a Survey of Patients in Four States

Using data from patients surveyed after primary care provider visits, this working paper found patients had favorable perceptions of electronic health records (EHRs). Patients believed that EHRs improved the quality of care, and most were not concerned with confidentiality of records. Adopters' patients rated the quality of care higher than nonadopters' patients did. There was also no detrimental effect of EHR use on patient–provider communication and no relationship between the way in which physicians interacted with the computer and patients' perceptions of care.