A new study finds medical residents spend nearly one-third of their working day using EHRs.
Researchers audited the time internal medicine residents at Stanford University School of Medicine were using the EHR by evaluating time-stamped actions entered between June 25, 2013, and June 29, 2014. Data were published in JAMA Internal Medicine.
Here are six more findings from the study.
1. Researchers found residents spent more than 30 percent of their time using EHR systems, and most of that time was spent reviewing medical charts.
2. The study found residents worked a median 69.2 hours each week, and 4.2 hours of that was spent using the EHR system each day.
3. Additionally, each day residents reviewed a median 14 medical charts and logged a median of 31 independent EHR sessions.
4. EHR activity peaked in the morning and decreased during teaching conference times.
5. "In addition to direct patient contact, residents are responsible for communication, order entry, data review and documentation," researchers wrote. "With more patient care being facilitated through computers today, there is increasing concern that little time remains for direct patient contact and education."
6. The researchers concluded teaching programs need to understand how EHR work may affect the responsibilities and education of residents as the role of EHRs in clinical settings grows.
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