59% of physicians want an EHR overhaul: 5 study insights

U.S. physicians want to see changes to the current EHR, according to research by Stanford (Calif.) Medicine and a survey by The Harris Poll.

More than 500 primary care physicians responded to an online poll seeking input on the current state of EHRs and the impact EHRs have on job satisfaction.

Here are five survey insights:

1. Although 63 percent of physicians think EHRs have generally led to improved patient care, 40 percent believe there are more challenges with EHRs than benefits and 59 percent believe EHRs need a complete overhaul.
2. About 66 percent of respondents are at least somewhat satisfied with their current systems, compared to 18 percent of respondents that said they are "very satisfied" with their current EHR.
3. Over half (54 percent) of respondents agree the EHR detracts from their professional satisfaction, and just under half (49 percent) said using an EHR detracts from their clinical effectiveness.
4. Seventy-four percent of respondents said the total number of hours they work each day has increased since the EHR, and 71 percent said EHRs contribute greatly to physician burnout.
5. Most physicians (44 percent) said the primary value of the EHR is data storage, compared to its clinical abilities such as disease prevention and management (3 percent) clinical decision support (3 percent) and patient engagement (2 percent).

The survey then asked physicians to rank the top three improvements they would  like to see in both the short-term and the long-term.

In the short-term, physicians would like to see:

1. An improved EHR user interface design that eliminates inefficiencies and reduces screen time (72 percent);
2. A shift to more EHR data entry support staff (48 percent); and
3. The use of voice recording technology that acts as a scribe during patient visits (38 percent).

In the long-term, physicians would like to see:

1. A focus on solving interoperability deficiencies (67 percent);
2. Improved predictive analytics to support disease diagnosis, prevention and population health management (43 percent); and
3. The integration of financial information to help patients understand the costs associated with their care options (32 percent).

Click here to view the complete poll results.

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