Engaging Consumers: Research Findings: Finding 5

Finding No. 5. Consumers overwhelmingly trust doctors the most (67 percent) to deliver them information about secure electronic health information exchange.

It is extremely important to engage practicing clinicians in both health information exchange efforts themselves, and in communicating with patients about their importance.

Respondents overwhelmingly say they trust doctors the most to deliver them information about secure electronic health information exchange.

•   67%  Doctors
•   8%  Hospitals
•   7%  The federal government
•   5%  Health insurance companies
•   3%  Employers
•   3%  The state government

While consumers trust doctors most, in the focus groups, the physician respondents presented the strongest resistance to health information exchange, citing worries about security of the information, liability (both individual and group), whether the exchange would be uniform, and finally the biggest barrier cited by physicians in the focus groups was that related to cost.