A survey by a team of researchers from the Massachusetts General Hospital discovered only 4 percent of U.S. doctors have shifted to electronic medical records management.

The slowness of changing to more modern methods of record keeping was because of the high cost involved, which averages $60,000 per doctor.

The high-tech record keeping system has key patient safety features such as an alert if a drug reacts badly with another medication the patient is taking.

According to Catherine DesRoches, lead author of the survey, 13 percent more of almost 2,800 physicians the group polled are already using a basic electronic record system, minus the safety features. Another 42 percent have taken steps to implement an electronic system or plan to start within the next two years.

Because of the huge amount involved in switching from manual records keeping to electronic, the federal government set aside $150 million for a pilot program to help U.S. doctors make the shift and create a template for other medics.

The technology is being used by American doctors who have rich and poor patients alike.