These Three Things Can Bring EHRs to the Next Level

The following is a guest article by Dr. Mark Pratt, Chief Medical Officer at Altera Digital Health The patient quietly sits while her physician delves into the data stored in her electronic health record, combing through different screens for specific information. It takes longer than both expect, precious minutes that diminish the available time for an actual conversation about the patient’s health status and the physician’s recommendations. This familiar scene exemplifies the unnecessary burdens traditional EHRs have placed on providers, patients, and the overall healthcare system. As a former ER physician and current digital health professional, I’ve dealt with these challenges firsthand—and see the enormous potential EHRs hold to change care experiences for the better. Drawing from this experience on both sides of the equation, I believe the next generation of EHRs can better meet the needs of all involved with better usability, interoperability, and flexibility. Here’s how. Prioritizing Usability Physician burnout has been on the rise, and it’s not showing signs of slowing. One annual survey found that 53% of physicians say they are burnt out, and in 2018, that figure was 42%. Of those who report burnout, 25% cite the computerization of practice and EHRs as a top contributor. Another recent study found that EHR-related stress negatively affects physicians’ interactions with their care teams. These findings are not entirely surprising given that early EHRs w...
Source: EMR and HIPAA - Category: Information Technology Authors: Tags: Ambulatory C-Suite Leadership Clinical EMR-EHR Health IT Company Healthcare IT Hospital - Health System LTPAC Altera Digital Health Clinical Usability Dr. Mark Pratt FHIR Flexible EHR Workflows Interoperability Physician Burnou Source Type: blogs