Correlation Found Between Poor EHR Usability and Physician Burnout

Statement attributed to:
Patrice A. Harris, M.D., M.A.
President, American Medical Association

“A new study issued today found electronic medical records (EHRs) - as currently designed, implemented and regulated - lack usability as a necessary feature, resulting in EHRs that are extremely hard to use compared to other common technologies. Poor EHR usability was found to be highly correlated with physician burnout.

“While the study was conducted by leading clinical institutions in collaboration with the American Medical Association (AMA), the findings will not come as a surprise to anyone who practices medicine. Too many physicians have experienced the demoralizing effects of cumbersome EHRs that interfere with providing first-rate medical care to patients.

“It is a national imperative to overhaul the design and use of EHRs and reframe the technology to focus primarily on its most critical function - helping physicians care for their patients. Significantly enhancing EHR usability is key and the AMA is working to ensure a new generation of EHRs are designed to prioritize time with patients, rather than overload physicians with type-and-click tasks.

“Through its ongoing work, the AMA is committed to help physicians and their practices thrive so they can continue to put patients first. Through our research, collaborations, advocacy and leadership, the AMA is working to make the patient‐physician relationship more valued than paperwork, preventive care the focus of the future, technology an asset and not a burden, and physician burnout a thing of the past.”