Medical students give U.S. health care poor grades
San Francisco Business Times
July 11, 2008
by Chris Rauber
View "Medical students give U.S. health care poor grades" article.
Medical students nationwide are big users of electronic technology, but many are skeptical about its chances of quick adoption in the health-care realm, according to a recent survey.
Only 16 percent of 925 medical students surveyed in May saw "widespread adoption" of electronic medical records happening nationally within the next four years, according to Epocrates Inc., a San Mateo medical information specialist. Epocrates provides clinical information to doctors and other clinicians via handheld devices. Only 35 percent of students surveyed expect "serious" health-care reform in the next five years, but 39 percent give U.S. health care a "D" or "F" grade.
In other findings, the random survey of med students who use Epocrates' software, found that:
- 42 percent hope to join a group practice versus just 6 percent who want to go solo.
- 68 percent say they're "not prepared" to handle the business side of running a medical practice.
- 49 percent turn first to Internet references to solve a clinical question, and 21 percent go to a mobile reference.
- 68 percent used an EMR during training, and 62 percent consider EMRs "very important" to running a practice.
"We think of students as our future pipeline ... so it's exciting to see students use technology more and more," said Michelle Snyder, Epocrates' vice president of marketing, explaining the rationale for the annual survey.
PRESS CONTACT: (650) 227-1700 ext. 3 pr@epocrates.com
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