Physicians Need More EHR Training

It’s becoming more important than ever that physicians have a good grasp on how to actually use EHRs. Unfortunately, a report revealed that most physicians are not adequately trained in how to use their EHRs.

The report looked to gauge physicians’ satisfaction with the use of their EHR systems. Overall, satisfaction highly correlated with whether or not the respondent was involved in selecting the EHR. Those not involved with the process, required longer lengths of training before they were at the same level of satisfaction as someone who was involved in the selection process.

According to the report, three to five days of training was necessary to achieve the highest level of satisfaction with the EHR system. However, half of the respondents received three or fewers days.

“The AmericanEHR Partners survey data strongly suggest that many physicians may be receiving an inadequate amount of initial training on how to use their EHR,” said Alan Brookstone, MD, chief executive officer of Cientis, in a statement.

Since those who help select the system are quicker to achieving satisfaction, the report suggests that practices involve as many physicians in the EHR selection process as possible.

The Correlation of Training Duration With EHR Usability and Satisfaction: Implications For Meaningful

was a collaboration between AmericanEHR Partners, the American Academy of Allergy Asthma & Immunology, the American College of Physicians, the American Osteopathic Association of Medical Informatics, the Infectious Disease Society of America, and the Renal Physicians Association.

Another report on EHRs, released on Monday by SK&A, also revealed a correlation between practice size and the likelihood of EHR adoption.

Overall, medical sites have an EHR adoption rate of 40%. However, large offices with 26-plus physicians had an adoption rate of 75%, compared to one-physician practices, which have an adoption rate of 31%.

EHR adoption also rises with sites that have more rooms and have larger daily patient volumes.

A second study by SK&A, which is ongoing, has so far shown that almost three-fourths of physician offices have not yet determined a timeframe for EHR adoption.