The EMR Patient Impact Study found a clear connection between "patients' use of EMRs and their perceptions of loyalty and satisfaction toward their physician — a connection undocumented until now," researchers reported. 

One top-line finding: EMR use by physicians rose from nearly 26 percent in 2010 to more than 38 percent in 2012. But that's not surprising, given that many practices decided to get ahead of the 2015 deadline. Hospital conversion rate was greater — from 15 percent in 2010 to 44 percent in 2012.

But it is the patient user data that offers insights into who's accessing EMR, why they do it, and how physicians may be benefiting if they have already made the conversion.

The survey found that almost 50 percent of patients take into account EMR access when they select a health care provider. Further, 24 percent of those surveyed are currently using electronic medical records "to check their test results, order prescription refills and make appointments."

The current users fall into two broad categories:

• Trial users (9 percent) "have the highest share of women and non-white consumers than any other group; one-third have just recently started using EMRs within the last six months."
• Regular users (13 percent) "prefer emailing their doctor instead of calling or meeting in-person; one in three are caregivers to an adult family member; 67 percent say online access would be very influential in their choice of a new doctor."

EMR users tend to like their doctors more, trust them more, and think they get better health care than they'd get from doctors who haven't moved over to EMR. Here's some detail:

• Those who do use EMRs feel a stronger loyalty to their doctors (78 percent versus 68 percent among non-EMR users).     
• 82 percent say they believe they receive better quality of care than they would from an non-EMR convert

They also express higher satisfaction with their care, citing such factors as ease of access to information and clarity and thoroughness of communication. Further, they believe they can gain access to information easier than non EMR users.

On further slicing and dicing the results, the researchers learned that EMR use is higher among young people, and particularly young people way out West. An estimated 34 percent of residents of Western states report having tried an EMR.

If you've taken care of a relative, you are more likely to be an EMR user. "Primary caregivers to adult family members are among those who regularly use EMRs. … 33 percent have used an EMR, either on the web or via a mobile device, compared to 21 percent of non-caregivers."

While less than a quarter of those surveyed actually have experience with EMR, another 52 percent say they are interested in using EMRs. Thus, the researchers conclude, physicians would be well advised to take the plunge into EMR sooner rather than later.

"The study findings clearly indicate a strong link between EMR users and their confidence in the quality of healthcare they receive," Tamara O'Shaughnessy, vice president at Aeffect, said. "There is solid evidence that the investment providers continue to make in EMR systems is likely to put adopters at a competitive advantage and yield dividends beyond the expected operational efficiencies—namely it will enhance patient loyalty and satisfaction," she said.

Also read: Are doctors embracing technology, or avoiding it?