All primary care doctors in Denmark use electronic medical records and 98 percent have the ability to electronically manage patient care. This has put the small country at the forefront of effective information technology use, according to a new report released by the Commonwealth Fund.

According to authors of the report, Denis Protti, a professor of health informatics at the University of Victoria and a visiting chair of health informatics at City University London, and Ib Johansen, deputy manager and consultant at the Danish Centre for Health Telematics, much can be learned from the Danish system, where health IT use among primary care doctors soared from 15 percent in the early 1990s to more than 90 percent by the year 2000.

In the Unites States today, only 46 percent of physicians use EMRs.

"Denmark continues to work vigorously toward an efficient, patient-centered healthcare system and has strategically employed health information technology to help achieve that goal," said Commonwealth Fund President Karen Davis.

"The Commonwealth Fund's international healthcare surveys have consistently shown us that the United States lags behind when it comes to health information technology. However, the promotion of health information technology in the recent stimulus bill and current health reform bills are an encouraging sign. These efforts, combined with some of the best ideas from Denmark's success –a coherent national policy, financial incentives to adopt technologies, and technical support for providers—could go a long way toward moving this country to a high performance health care system," she said.

Not only can primary care doctors in Denmark order prescriptions, draft notes about patient visits, and send appointment reminders electronically, but almost all their medical communication to specialists, and hospitals is electronic, thanks to services provided by a nonprofit, nongovernmental organization called MedCom.

Protti and Johansen say Danish physicians have reported being satisfied with using technology as part of their regular practice - experiencing increased efficiency, quicker access to patient data, better coordination with hospitals and emergency departments, and saving approximately one hour of staff time every day offsetting the cost of investing in the technology.

"Whatever the reasons, there is little doubt that the Danes are the forerunners to effectively using clinical information technology to improve the overall care process in primary care which importantly includes being able to efficiently exchange information with other healthcare sectors," said the authors in the report.

Danish patients also have the ability to electronically access all of their medical information including, medical records, tests results and hospital discharge instructions through the Danish National Health Portal, which was introduced in 2005. Patients can also electronically schedule appointments and renew prescriptions, and have access to after hours care when they need it. The authors say that as a result, Denmark residents have well-coordinated, efficient healthcare and report the highest satisfaction in the European Union with their healthcare system.

Protti and Johansen said they gathered data for the report through visits and interviews with Danish officials and general practitioner (GPs) over the past five years, as well as through a review of the scientific literature.

Click here to access the full report.