Is HIT-Related Stress A Major Factor In Family Physician Burnout?

Is HIT-Related Stress A Major Factor In Family Physician Burnout?

HIT (health IT) is supposed to improve communication, facilitate easier access to patient data and streamline bureaucracy for a better healthcare experience. But in reality it doesn’t work that way for physicians, especially family physicians. The use of EHRs has introduced new challenges and stressors. Family physicians often find themselves spending more time on EHRs than on direct patient care. This adds to their stress! Did you know that nearly 50% of family physicians experience burnout and EHRs are the major culprit? One effective way to ease EHR-induced stress is to hire a scribe. Let us in this blog post discuss how scribes can streamline a family practice for a stress-free experience!

The Reality Of EHRs

Despite initial expectations, EHRs often contribute to rather than alleviate stress among physicians. A study published in the Journal of the American Medical Informatics Association explored the connection between HIT-related stress and burnout. It found that stress is prevalent among physicians who use EHRs, significantly among family physicians and those in primary care settings. A survey of nearly 1,800 doctors in Rhode Island discovered that electronic health records (EHRs) are a major cause of stress and burnout among physicians. Many physicians said that EHRs added to their daily frustration levels. Physicians also mentioned not having enough time to complete documentation while at work and spending a lot of time trying to complete charts after clinic hours.

The Survey Insights

The researchers from the Rhode Island Department of Health revealed alarming statistics. A survey was sent to 4200 physicians. 43% of the physicians took part in the survey, and 26% of those surveyed reported at least one symptom of burnout. Over 70% of EHR users reported experiencing health IT-related stress, with family physicians being among the most affected. An alarming 27.2% of EHR users exhibited symptoms of burnout, compared to 13.6% of non-users. Physicians commonly cited insufficient time for documentation and spending excessive hours on EHRs, even at home. The researchers suggest that healthcare practices should address HIT-related stress among physicians on a regular basis. They concluded saying as burnout affects physicians, patients and the healthcare system it is crucial to tackle health IT-related stress in order to reduce physician administrative burden and improve patient care.

EHR-Induced Stress And Scribe Help

Dr. Steven E. Waldren, Family Physician and Chief Medical Informatics Officer at the American Academy of Family Physicians told AAFP News, that he wasn't the least surprised that stress levels are tied to EHR use. The AAFP is consistently pushing for improving the usability of EHRs and considerably reducing the administrative burden on physicians that contributes to stress and burnout. One solution is the use of scribes, who can take over the documentation tasks, allowing physicians to focus entirely on patient care. Scribes can help reduce the time physicians spend on EHRs, thereby reducing stress and improving overall job satisfaction.

Conclusion

EHRs, while intended to improve healthcare efficiency, often stress out family physicians and lead to burnout. The high prevalence of EHR-related stress emphasizes the need for practical solutions. Hiring a scribe is one effective way that helps. Scribes take care of documentation during patient visits, freeing up family physicians to dedicate more time to patient care. This greatly helps to enhance physician well-being and improve the overall healthcare experience. Looking to hire scribes for your family practice? Hire Scribe4Me’s family medicine scribes. They are specially trained in the terminology and documentation requirements specific to family practices, ensuring accurate and thorough documentation. Break free from HIT-related stress! Hire a scribe today! Reduce stress, improve care!