Despite coding changes aimed at reducing documentation burden, a recent study by Epic Research reveals that the average length of EHR clinical notes continues to increase. However, providers spent less time writing notes on average. The study also found that a significant number of providers across various specialties were able to reduce note length. Organizations that reduced their use of SmartTools saw a decrease in note length, while increased note length was associated with higher usage of SmartTools and copy/paste functions.
Despite the implementation of EHR coding changes in 2021 aimed at alleviating the documentation burden, a recent report by Epic Research reveals that the average length of EHR clinical notes continues to increase.
The study analyzed 1.7 billion clinical notes written by 166,318 outpatient providers between May 2020 and April 2023. It was discovered that the average length of all clinical notes rose by 8.1 percent during this period. Surprisingly, although the note length increased, providers spent 11.1 percent less time writing notes on average.
Moreover, the researchers compared the average note length of each provider in 2020 to that of the same provider in 2023. Around 40 percent of providers managed to reduce their average note length over three years.
The study also found that almost 90 percent of providers decreased the time spent on each clinical note. Notably, among the providers who significantly reduced their note lengths, 10 percent belonged to various specialties such as primary care, internal medicine, surgical specialties, dermatology, cardiology, and psychiatry. This indicates that reducing note length is achievable across nearly all specialties.
Furthermore, organizations that diminished their usage of SmartTools—tools facilitating the addition of extra content to clinical notes from other sections of the EHR—observed a decrease in average note length. Conversely, organizations that experienced an increase in note length exhibited consistent use of SmartTools and a higher reliance on copy/paste functions. These findings support prior research that demonstrated a correlation between greater use of SmartTools and copy/paste functions and longer EHR notes.
The authors emphasized that despite the increase in average note length, most providers spent less time writing notes. This could enable clinicians to deliver more patient-centered care or reduce their workload outside regular hours.
