Most of US consumers want EMR-related full access

According to a survey published by Accenture, most U.S. consumers want to have full access to their electronic medical records (EMR), and 41% would be willing to switch doctors to gain access. Researchers from Accenture surveyed more than 9,015 adults in 9 countries to examine consumer perceptions of their medical providers' electronic capabilities. According to the report, 41% of U.S. consumers would be willing to switch doctors in order to gain online access to their EMR. 84% of U.S. consumers believe they should have full access to their EMR, but only 36% of physicians agree. 65% of physicians believe patients should have limited EMR access, which is what 63% of consumers currently have. “Just as consumers can self-manage most other aspects of their lives, they expect to take greater ownership of their medical care, and they are willing to switch to doctors who share their values and are willing to provide access to consumer records”, Kaveh Safavi, M.D., J.D., managing director of Accenture's North American health business, said in a statement.