December 29, 2011 – With cardiologists facing an ever-changing healthcare regulatory environment and racing to achieve meaningful use, a recent Epocrates survey revealed cardiologists’ perspective about the latest practice and technology trends. With more than 370 cardiologists participating in the survey, the results show compelling data in regards to current trends in cardiology practice, including:
• Picture archiving and communications systems (PACS) Plans: Approximately 42 percent of cardiologists will invest in a cardiovascular PACS system in the next two to three years.
· Patient medication confusion: More than 30 percent of cardiologists report identifying mystery pills daily for patients who bring in their medications without proper identification
· Tablet computing takeover: Nearly 50 percent of cardiologists plan on purchasing a tablet device within the next year, with more than one-third reporting currently using a tablet device in their medical practice. The Apple iPad is the most popular tablet choice among cardiologists.
· Electronic Health Records (EHRs) making in-roads: More than a third of cardiologists report that they plan to adopt an electronic health record (EHR) in the coming year, and more than 75 percent plan to adopt a system in the next two years.
• Obesity-related issues slowing: The survey revealed that the rate of increase in obesity-related heart issues among cardiology patients is less than the previous year.
For more information: www.epocrates.com