About 40 pct of docs use electronic records

Just under 40 percent of US doctors use electronic medical records and many say the system they use is only minimally functional, according to a survey by the National Center for Health Statistics. Only 4 percent of doctors said their systems were fully functional -- a clear indication of just how many physicians rely on outdated paper records. President-elect Barack Obama has said he would make electronic medical records a central part of his healthcare reform plan and promised to spend $50 billion doing so over five years. But Obama also said he is not sure how to fund his initiatives given the recession, growing unemployment and other aspects of the economic crisis. Many experts agree that having electronic medical records would improve healthcare, prevent errors and save costs.