Yesterday we pondered the impact of federal policy on the health IT market.

Today, we switch sides and take a look at what doctors are saying they want more of, which will naturally lead one way or another to a shift in market offerings. Specifically, a study from Florida-based Vitera Healthcare Solutions indicates that doctors like using their mobile devices, and they want to use them even more.

Interestingly, though, the study “found that while 72 percent of surveyed healthcare professionals already use their mobile device for work purposes, only six percent are currently using their devices to connect to their EHR or to e-prescribe.” That said, “the majority of respondents are interested in a mobile EHR solution, with physicians being the most interested (91%), followed by practice administrators (66%) and billing managers (43%).”

As Matthew Hawkins, Vitera’s CEO, summed it up, ““Healthcare professionals are embracing the convenience of mobile technology to handle a number of work tasks, but want to expand this ability by having a mobile EHR solution. In the same manner that other professionals are able to enjoy the benefits of their mobile device as an office on-the-go, practice physicians, executives and managers are looking for the same accessibility to provide more efficient care for their patients.”

The survey also shored that an overwhelming percentage of providers would like for a mobile means of reviewing and updating a patient’s chart, as well as ordering prescriptions.

Some of the study’s other key findings include:

* 55% of respondents presently use their mobile device to email, phone, text or send other communications, and 20% perform medical research on the go (20%.
* The most popular mobile devices respondents use are iPhones (60%), an iPads (45%) and Android smartphones (38%)

More information can be found here.