In an op-ed in Annals of Internal Medicine, two physicians compare entering information into an electronic health record during a patient visit akin to texting while driving, arguing such multitasking limits a physician's ability to notice warning signs in patients.
"Although there is a relative lack of observational data, in clinics across the country we have observed patients sending signals of depression, disagreement and lack of understanding and have witnessed kind, compassionate and well-intentioned physicians missing these signals when they multitask," write authors Christine A. Sinsky, MD, of the Medical Associates Clinic in Dubuque, Iowa, and John W. Beasley, MD, of the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health in Madison.
The authors feel this problem will be exacerbated with the move towards meaningful use stage 2, when physicians will be required to enter orders directly into EHRs.
The authors suggest using another medical professional, such as a nurse or physicians assistant, to enter the patient's information into the EHR during the visit, so the patient can have the physician's undivided attention.
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