
Study links perceived EHR work stress to clinician burnout across specialties. Implementing pooling for patient portal messages did not reduce burnout odds. Prescription authorization message volumes were associated with higher burnout risk. Delegating tasks to appropriate staff and considering organizational factors are crucial. Inclusive research with objective EHR measures is needed to understand burnout’s impact better.
A recent investigation into the effects of EHR (Electronic Health Record) work on clinician burnout yielded significant results. The study, published in JAMIA, found a strong association between perceived EHR work stress and clinician burnout across all medical specialties. The research, conducted in April 2020, invited attending physicians at UC San Diego Health System to participate in a survey.
Interestingly, the study discovered that implementing a “pooling” system to manage patient portal messages did not alleviate the odds of clinician burnout compared to physicians who directly received MyChart messages. However, the authors of the study cautioned against prematurely dismissing the potential benefits of pools. They called for further investigation into various aspects, including pool availability, usage decisions, qualifications, message complexity, and the composition of pool members (e.g., medical assistants, registered nurses, or advanced practice providers).
Anecdotal accounts from attending physicians suggested that some pool members forwarded post messages directly to physicians without taking additional action, thus reducing the effectiveness of the pooling system in alleviating EHR workload.
The study also revealed a connection between higher prescription authorization message volumes and increased odds of clinician burnout. This highlights the importance of providing additional support for physicians, such as using pharmacists or pharmacy assistants for these tasks, which has shown to make a positive difference.
The survey results indicated that physicians who did not feel valued and believed their values were misaligned with those of their leaders experienced higher burnout rates. This emphasizes the significance of addressing organizational factors beyond EHR stress to combat burnout effectively.
The authors suggested delegating prescription authorization to staff with an appropriate scope of practice as a measure to reduce physicians’ EHR workload, whenever possible.
The study’s findings emphasized that burnout was prevalent among physicians in all specialties, underscoring the importance of including both ambulatory care physicians and specialists in future clinician burnout studies and the development of potential solutions. To gain a better understanding of the relationship between EHR-based work and burnout, the authors stressed the use of objective EHR work measures that encompass all types of physicians, not just limited to ambulatory care.
Overall, this comprehensive study sheds light on the pervasive impact of EHR work on clinician burnout across various medical specialties. Addressing this issue requires a multifaceted approach that considers both EHR-related factors and broader organizational dynamics to support the well-being of physicians.