Technology in Medicine: Optimizing Electronic Health Records

Abstract

Electronic health record (EHR) systems have transformed the medical industry. Despite their known benefits, their implementation has resulted in new digital administrative tasks and responsibilities for physicians. This increase in administrative burden has been shown to contribute to physician burnout. Most sources of EHR-related burnout can be categorized into three groups: poor usability, excessive time spent in the EHR, and inefficient workflows. Evidence-based interventions for EHR-related burnout focus on training and education, which improve efficiency in EHR use and may reduce burnout. Optimization of the EHR interface, including personalization and use of targeted workflows, can help address physician frustrations and improve productivity. In the United States, the federal government regulates EHR system development and sets usability requirements. These requirements are critical because visualization and operational design of the user interface have been shown to directly affect patient care and safety. Negative effects of EHR implementation generally are related to increased administrative burden. Positive effects include greater clinician productivity and administrative cost savings. EHR adoption has consistently been associated with positive financial and clinical outcomes. Federal laws continue to be implemented to improve EHR usability, interoperability, and standards for data access and security.