Patient health information often shared electronically

(HealthDay)—The most common electronically sent and received types of patient health information (PHI) include laboratory results and medication lists, according to a report published Aug. 15 by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's National Center for Health Statistics.

Using data from the 2015 National Electronic Health Records Survey, Ninee S. Yang, Ph.D., from the National Center for Health Statistics in Hyattsville, Md., and colleagues describe the types of PHI that are electronically shared in physician offices.

The researchers found that among office-based physicians who sent PHI electronically the most commonly observed types of PHI sent were referrals, laboratory results, and medication lists (67.9, 67.2, and 65.1 percent, respectively) in 2015. Among physicians who received PHI, the most commonly observed types were laboratory results, imaging reports, and medication lists (78.8, 60.8, and 54.4 percent, respectively). The most commonly observed types of PHI integrated among physicians who integrated PHI electronically were laboratory results, imaging reports, and hospital discharge summaries (73.2, 49.8, and 48.7 percent, respectively). A large majority of physicians who searched for PHI electronically did so for medication lists, medication allergy lists, and hospital discharge summaries (90.2, 88.2, and 80.4 percent).

"Combined with measures of electronic sharing of PHI by physicians, information on the specific type of PHI shared electronically among office-based physicians will assist in tracking progress outlined in the federal plan for achieving interoperability," the authors write.

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