Three ways tech can remedy provider burnout

According to a survey by the American Medical Association (AMA), nearly half of physicians reported they experienced at least one symptom of burnout. While there is no single contributor, it is no secret that technology is often a stressor.

What if, instead, technology could be a solution?

At Altera Digital Health, we believe a new era of healthcare is possible. Here are three common drivers of burnout and how technological advancements will help chart a new path forward.

Documentation burdens

Over the course of a single shift, providers are finding themselves making hundreds, if not thousands, of clicks in the electronic health record (EHR) system. If providers complete documentation during visits, it can detract from the patient–provider relationship. And even if they multitask in this way, physicians often spend nearly two hours completing charts after hours.

Clinical note authoring shouldn’t be this much of a burden. That’s why Altera has developed ambient listening tools for our EHR solutions, Sunrise™, Paragon® Denali, and TouchWorks® EHR, that go beyond basic transcription services to detect different voices in the exam room and capture what the patient and provider say.

After the encounter is complete, AI leveraging natural language processing (NLP) and reasoning capabilities extracts data from the unstructured note and populates its various datapoints within structured clinical templates and forms for the provider. Healthcare can be so much more efficient and effective. Automating administrative tasks to free up clinicians’ time can help us get there.

Downtime disruptions

EHR maintenance and system upgrades are another major source of headaches for clinicians. When clinical staff members are treating patients and their EHR systems are down, new risks to patient safety are introduced.

Additionally, when the system is running again, providers then must ensure whatever was documented manually is added to the EHR. This costs time that could be spent seeing other patients as well as lost revenue healthcare organizations could otherwise use for other initiatives.

Healthcare organizations that transition from on-premises EHRs to cloud-based systems can not only minimize downtime and the disruptions it creates, but can also use new enhancements and features more quickly. Recognizing these benefits, Altera has made significant investments in the cloud, offering Sunrise™ in the Microsoft Azure cloud platform and utilizing native cloud containerization to build Paragon® Denali on Azure. Patients rely on providers to support their health. Providers should be able to rely on the systems they need to make that happen.

Data-sharing shortfalls

When EHRs began replacing paper charts, industry stakeholders were excited about the many ways vast quantities of data could be leveraged to improve patient outcomes. In reality, traditional EHRs have not provided the value many anticipated. A lack of full interoperability across (and even within) systems has contributed to inconsistent, duplicative and missing clinical information.

Time wasted searching for data means short-staffed clinical teams have even less time to spend with patients. Additionally, the lack of a complete patient view impedes decision-making, which can negatively affect patient outcomes and clinician satisfaction.

Industry standards and frameworks, such as Fast Healthcare Interoperability Resources (FHIR) and Trusted Exchange Framework and Common Agreement (TEFCA), are now improving the secure exchange of patient data. To take this a step further, organizations should consider solutions that aggregate and harmonize data, such as the dbMotion™ Solution, so that providers have organized, actionable information ready whenever and wherever they need it.

Doing things differently

For years, clinicians have conformed to technology. It’s time for technology to work the way they do. It’s time for something different.

Learn why Altera is the alternative you need for the outcomes you want by visiting alterahealth.com and stopping by booth #2532 at HIMSS25, March 3–6 in Las Vegas, Nevada.

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