Diffusion of electronic health records--six years of empirical data

The Danish EHR-Observatory has monitored Danish EHR projects since 2000 with respect to a number of parameters such as diffusion, diffusion rate and the hospital owners expectations. On the basis of the data and a model for technology diffusion three scenarios for future diffusion are built. The results show that the national goal to have EHRs fully implemented in hospitals by 2008 will not be reached. The scenarios built from empirical data provide a useful benchmarking tool for planning and evaluating the EHR implementation programs in hospitals.