One physician task Boston-based Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center has worked changed to eliminate burnout is the number of EHR clicks providers have to make, the American Medical Association reports.
In partnership with the AMA, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center implemented a burnout survey among physicians to evaluate main stress points. Leaders at the hospital included 20 changes on the survey that could improve physicians' work life. Physicians were asked to prioritize the changes.
"Even before the results of the survey were available, we expected that there would be things we could do to help improve the physicians' experience," said Alexa Kimball, MD, president and CEO of Harvard Medical faculty physicians at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center. "We searched the literature for interventions that had been tried, we brainstormed amongst ourselves and we asked the departments to share their best practices."
Many of the changes were directed toward the information technology department. Here are the 12 priorities:
1. Simplify or provide more support for Harvard promotion process.
2. Cut the number of clicks in their EHR.
3 Provide additional training for administrative team members to enhance the patient experience.
4. Add a split screen to keep notes open while reviewing other sections of their EHR.
5. Streamline and simplify credentialing paperwork.
6. Shorten and simplify mandatory training and provide CME credit when possible.
7. Automatically populate ICD-10 billing codes into orders, notes and problem lists.
8. Provide medical assistants with additional training so they can assist more during ambulatory visits.
9. Provide more help with processing prior authorizations for medications or procedures.
10. Develop tools to help address underutilization or cancellations.
11. Provide more consolidated benefits information online.
12. Expand child care and family resources.
Since implementing the survey, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center has completed 11 of the 12 changes.