Drchrono is the top ranked mobile electronic health record app vendor for the third year in a row, according to the latest report from market research firm Black Book Rankings.

The report, released July 21, was based on a four month user poll.

Other top performing mobile EHR application firms in the rankings include HealthFusion, Greenway, Cerner, Allscripts, athenahealth, PracticeFusion, iPatientCare, Kareo, and ADP AdvancedMD.

The report also found that 52 percent of ambulatory practice physicians currently access patient records and/or reference data from a mobile device, and that 70 percent of all clinicians indicated their intent to use mobile EHR devices and software by the end of 2015.

Interestingly, 96 percent of respondents indicated that the top reason for increasing their spend on IT was for data security. They also self-reported that 96 percent estimated achievement of Meaningful Use Stage 1 in 2015 with their current IT, but only 66 percent could achieve Stage 2.

Thirty-one percent of all physicians responding said they use smart phones as part of their individual patient management strategies. Emergency physicians, radiologists, OB GYNs, general surgeons and orthopedic surgeons were among the specialists with the highest utilization rate.

"As the transition to mobile devices has been rapidly occurring over the past five years, progressive EHR vendors have responded with clear plans and successful products to help expand the user experience," Doug Brown, Managing Partner of Black Book Market Research, said in a statement. "With more than half of physicians currently using a mobile device in their medical practices, these EHR vendors are allowing providers to choose which platform best fits in to their workflow in multiple healthcare delivery settings including highly usable mobile products."

Mobile devices and EHR apps are becoming increasingly popular. However, they do come with drawbacks, such as the risk of cyberattack which can also compromise the entire EHR system.

Mobile devices can also distract from patient care.

To learn more:
- read the announcement

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