# Improving EMR System Adoption in Canadian Medical Practice: A Research Model and Survey Proposal

> MeRC Working Paper #22 by Archer and Cocosila, January 2008: fewer than one in four Canadian doctors used EMR systems; a national physician survey was proposed.

Page URL: https://merc-mcmaster.ca/working-papers/improving-emr-system-adoption-in-canadian-medical-practice-a-research-model-and-survey-proposal/

Working Paper #22 by Norm Archer and Mihail Cocosila, January 2008.

## The problem

- Fewer than one in four Canadian doctors used EMR systems.
- Each year: over 100 million examinations, 500 million tests, 382 million prescriptions.
- Records were scattered across offices, clinics, labs and hospitals.
- Fax, phone or mail transfers caused significant diagnostic delays.
- Incompatible systems created problems when records moved between settings.
- Errors, duplication, higher costs and reduced quality of care followed.
- Non-adoption was described as highly complex.

## Proposed research

- Objective one: a validated adoption model from a national physician survey.
- Objective two: propose and evaluate policies to improve adoption.