Are Primary Care Physicians Stuck With EHRs?

Are Primary Care Physicians Stuck With EHRs?

Primary care physicians often feel that they don’t have enough hours in a day to complete all of their tasks. With busy schedules and high patient loads, they are already stretched thin, and the growing demands of EHR work add to their stress. A recent study revealed that PCPs require 27 hours each day to finish both clinical and non-clinical tasks. Dr. Christine Sinsky, who authored the study, observed a marked increase in EHR time from 2019 to 2023. Brian G. Arndt, the co-author noted that PCPs spend more time on EHRs than physicians in any other specialty. The growing EHR workload reduced the time spent with patients, leading to diminished job satisfaction and contributing to burnout. Fortunately, there’s a promising solution - adding a scribe to their workflow.

The Impact Of Heavy EHR Workloads On PCPs

EHR documentation time demands are another longstanding concern for PCPs. They spend a considerable amount of time to EHR tasks, often requiring them to work outside of regular hours. These demands not only impact their clinical and personal lives, but also increase the risk of burnout, causing some to scale back their clinic hours or leave the field altogether. The situation has worsened since the pandemic, with PCPs now spending significantly more time on EHRs. The rise in EHR workload is now an added pressure on their already busy patient care schedules. To combat this, health systems must implement strategies to minimize PCPs stress and prevent a decrease in physician efficiency due to EHR demands.

Research Study - EHR workload Trends In PCPs

Researchers from the University of Wisconsin-Madison studied recent trends in EHR workload for primary care physicians. They examined how 141 academic PCPs used EHRs, including those in family medicine, internal medicine, and general pediatrics. The study, conducted over four years, involved a large patient group, with the health system providing care for nearly 300,000 primary care patients annually. EHR time and inbox message volume were measured for each PCP and adjusted to fit an 8-hour workday. It was found that PCPs spent an extra 30 minutes on EHR tasks per 8-hour clinic shift from the pre-pandemic period to March 2023. EHR work both during and outside clinic hours surged significantly, highlighting that PCPs time spent on EHRs continues to grow.

Implications For Primary Care Physicians

For PCPs, the demands of completing EHR tasks and responding to patients' inbox messages have far-reaching implications. These tasks consume significant amounts of clinical and personal time, often extending into after-hours work. This not only disrupts the work-life balance of PCPs but also increases their risk of burnout. The increased workload can contribute to PCPs' decisions to reduce their time in the clinic or, in some cases, leave the profession altogether. This concerning trend signals the urgent need for solutions to reduce the EHR burden and support PCPs in maintaining their well-being and job satisfaction.

The Need For Solutions

The study's findings highlight the urgency of developing strategies to manage and reduce PCPs' EHR workload. While inbox time for PCPs appears to be leveling off, it remains much higher than pre-pandemic levels. Hence, health systems must prioritize initiatives to alleviate the EHR burden on PCPs. Approaches may include reducing the volume of inbox messages with new policies, redesigning primary care workflows and implementing a scribe program. Employing scribes can be a viable solution, as scribes can help reduce EHR workload by handling documentation tasks, allowing PCPs to focus more on patient care and less on administrative duties.

Are you a primary care physician overwhelmed by EHR documentation requirements? Scribe4Me offers high-quality scribing services tailored to your practices’ specific needs. Get in touch with us today and take your first step towards a more efficient and fulfilling practice. Don't let EHRs dictate your day. Let Scribe4M help you regain control!