All primary care doctors in Denmark use electronic medical records and 98 percentlectronically manage patient care-including ordering prescriptions, drafting notes about patient visits, and sending appointment reminders. Almost all medical communication between primary care doctors, specialists, and hospitals is electronic, according to a new Commonwealth Fund profile of the Danish health care system. In US only 46% of physicians use EMRs. Danish patients have the ability to electronically access all of their medical information including, medical records, tests results, and hospital discharge instructions. They can also electronically schedule appointments and renew prescriptions, and have access to after hours care when they need it. As a result, Denmark residents have well coordinated, efficient health care and report the highest satisfaction in the European Union with their health care system.

Denmark continues to work vigorously toward an efficient, patient-centered health care system and has strategically employed health information technology to help achieve that goal. The Commonwealth Fund’s international health care 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.

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