ARMONK, NY – A new IBM study reveals that one in four Americans have not scheduled a "wellness" visit within the last year – due, in part, to paperwork.

Of those who have not had a wellness visit within the last five years, 33 percent say they waste time at the doctor's office filling out repetitive paperwork. Comparatively, 17 percent of those who have had a wellness visit in the last year also cite paperwork as a problem.

In addition, 70 percent of respondents who have visited an emergency room five or more times in the past year said more access to their doctors – including the ability to contect them after-hours – could help them avoid unnecessary ER visits. And less than one-fifth of patients surveyed report their doctors use a Web site for communicating with patients.

The use of technology, such as electronic health records, is met with optimism by the majority of those surveyed: 54 percent said they're interested in viewing their medical records online, and 60 percent of Americans ages 18-29 want online access to their records. Among older Americans (over the age of 50), 43 percent want to access their medical records online.

Cost another barrier

Fifty-five percent cite cost as a deterrent to wellness visits: 38 percent don't believe it's worth the expense and more than one-third – the majority over age 50 – say they're an "abuse of the healthcare system."

Emergency rooms and urgent care centers are often used as alternatives to primary care physician visits. Individuals without primary care physicians visited the emergency room 50 percent more often last year.

Nearly two-thirds of those surveyed are worried they will experience a serious medical emergency, while 47 percent fear they will be diagnosed with a chronic condition such as diabetes. This flies in the face of managing trends such as the growing prevalence of obesity, which has become a leading health crisis in the United States – 86 percent of adults will be overweight or obese by 2036 if current trends continue, according to a recent study by the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the National Institutes of Health.

"The survey shows that people need better access to primary care, and they must build a close relationship with their family doctor who can coach them on their health," said IBM Director of Health Care Transformation Paul Grundy. "Primary care helps people establish a proactive approach to healthcare that will keep them healthier in the long run and save significantly on medical costs."

The IBM survey concludes that those who see their doctor for routine wellness visits are more informed, happier with the care they receive and more involved in managing their health.

While 93 percent of Americans are confident their doctor has the knowledge to treat their medical ailments or refer them to the proper specialist, eight of every 10 frequent ER visitors feel the same way. Those who have not had a wellness visit within the last five years, meanwhile, are less satisfied with the medical care they receive from their primary doctor.

"The family doctor is the first line of defense in reducing spiraling healthcare costs, and Americans need more confidence that preventive care really works," said Ted Epperly, MD, president of the American Academy of Family Physicians. "As the nation struggles to reduce healthcare costs and improve quality of care, better access to family physicians will have a significant positive impact on people's health."

The IBM Health Care Survey analysis is based on a phone survey that was conducted June 25-29 by Braun Research among 1,000 adults ages 18 or older. Respondents comprised a representative sample of insured, underinsured and uninsured. The total results reported are at the 95 percent confidence level with a margin of error of +/-2.5 percent.