The implementation and use of Electronic Medical Records (EMRs) across the Asia-Pacific region are shaped by a diverse array of economic, technological and organisational factors. Based on a 2024 HIMSS survey of 200 healthcare professionals from 17 countries, the EMR Experience in Asia-Pacific 2025 Report explores how systems are adopted, maintained and used by healthcare providers. It offers a granular view of the enablers and barriers across various EMR features, as well as reveals how integration challenges, user training and transition workflows affect outcomes in both clinical and administrative settings.
Implementation Complexities Across EMR Features
Implementation varied widely across EMR functionalities, reflecting organisational readiness and contextual limitations. Telemedicine, app integration and data analytics and AI were found to be the most difficult features to implement. These challenges often stemmed from technical complexities, interoperability issues and user resistance. For instance, app integration was hampered by software bugs and limited vendor support, while AI faced hurdles such as data privacy concerns and lack of skilled staff. Meanwhile, more basic functionalities like patient scheduling and clinical documentation were commonly implemented but still faced logistical obstacles, such as resistance to replacing paper-based systems or complexity in adapting workflows.
The report also noted high implementation rates for features like Laboratory Information Systems (LIS), Clinical Encounter Documentation and Computerised Physician Order Entry (CPOE). However, even these were not exempt from challenges. Clinical Decision Support Systems (CDSS), for example, suffered from a lack of comprehensive integration and demands for user engagement, while structured templates required customisation and alignment with evolving clinical practices. Implementation success frequently relied on well-trained staff, existing IT infrastructure and internal governance. In contrast, limitations in budget, system compatibility and consensus-building among stakeholders often delayed or complicated deployments.
Utilisation Challenges and User Experience
Feature utilisation rates presented a different picture, highlighting issues in ongoing interaction with EMR systems. Patient scheduling, while widely used, emerged as the most challenging to operate, with users citing lag times and interface complexity. Telemedicine, despite its growth during the COVID-19 pandemic, remained underutilised due to infrastructure gaps, digital illiteracy and inconsistent integration with EMRs. Across many settings, physicians continued to favour tools like WhatsApp or Zoom outside the EMR environment, reflecting usability shortcomings.
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Voice recognition and Optical Character Recognition (OCR) technologies were particularly underused and viewed as difficult due to accuracy problems, cost and the need for specific hardware. Even features with high adoption, such as structured templates or order sets, were criticised for being inflexible or poorly designed. Respondents reported interface clutter, inefficient workflows and errors in data entry as ongoing pain points. The success of utilisation often hinged on the presence of user-friendly designs, prior experience and sufficient support. Conversely, the absence of consistent user training and customisability diminished the benefits of otherwise promising tools.
Training, Transition and Interoperability
Training quality and system transition management emerged as central to EMR effectiveness. While 58% of respondents believed their initial training fully prepared them for EMR use, 23% were dissatisfied. In-person sessions remained the preferred delivery method, but respondents also favoured self-help tools and at-the-elbow support for ongoing learning. Upgrade-related training and feedback mechanisms were critical for adapting to system changes.
Transitioning between EMR systems revealed additional complexities. The participation of various roles and the documentation of workflow inputs and outputs were seen as the most impactful elements. Policies and compliance requirements often compounded difficulties, increasing workloads during transitions. These challenges were particularly acute when trying to maintain continuity of care, avoid duplication and meet documentation standards.
Interoperability continued to be a persistent barrier. Only 35% of respondents agreed that sending data to another facility was easy, while 43% disagreed that their EMR could parse information from other systems without correction. Seamless data exchange remains essential for patient safety, yet many systems still face technical and semantic obstacles. Despite role-based access controls (RBAC) being widely implemented and overseen by information security officers, broader issues in data sharing and standardisation across platforms limited system effectiveness.
The HIMSS EMR Experience in Asia-Pacific 2025 Report highlights both the progress and persistent difficulties in EMR implementation and use across the region. While certain core features are widely adopted, more advanced functionalities face integration and usability barriers that require coordinated solutions. User training, transition planning and interoperability frameworks are all essential components in realising the full potential of EMRs. In the future, addressing these structural and operational gaps will be crucial to improving care quality and operational efficiency throughout the Asia-Pacific region.
Source: HIMSS
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