Electronic health record (EHR) adoption among U.S. non-federal acute care hospitals has reached nearly universal levels, according to a new data brief from the Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology (ONC).

The report shows that by 2024, more than 99 percent of non-federal acute care hospitals had adopted a certified EHR, an increase of more than tenfold since 2008, when fewer than 10 percent of hospitals reported using fully electronic systems. Adoption rates have remained consistently high since 2018, with little variation by hospital size, ownership, location, or critical access status.

The findings underscore the success of federal health IT initiatives launched under the HITECH Act, which accelerated nationwide adoption of certified EHRs. While implementation is no longer the primary challenge, policymakers and healthcare leaders are increasingly focused on maximizing the value of those systems through interoperability, data sharing, artificial intelligence, and improved clinician workflows.

The milestone comes as ONC shifts its focus from adoption to advancing more sophisticated digital health capabilities. Recent agency data show continued gains in interoperability, patient engagement tools, and API-enabled data exchange, reflecting a broader emphasis on making health information more accessible and actionable for providers and patients.

Pietje Kobus-McAllister has an international background and experience in content management and editing. She studied journalism in the Netherlands and Communications and Creative Nonfiction in the U.S. Pietje joined Healthcare Innovation in January 2024.