Southern California Permanente Medical Group successfully implements peer-led EHR training

It is no secret that many physicians struggle with EHRs, particularly when they are first implemented at a hospital. In fact, EHRs are one of the highest stressors reported in group surveys of physicians. When physicians at Southern California Permanente Medical Group (SCPMG) reported the negative impact of EHRs on their relationships with patients as well as their own well-being, a group of experts put together a pilot physician-led training course.

The course takes place over three days, in which physicians have zero patient responsibilities and are able to focus completely on learning. Depending on their specialties and the curriculum of each particular program, physicians may receive up to 26 hours of continuing medical education credits. The course is taught solely by fellow physicians, who either self-identify as expert users or are nominated by their peers for their technical expertise.

After taking the course, more than 80% of physicians felt their new knowledge and confidence would save them several minutes per hour, equating to about 40 minutes per day. Ken Robinson, MD, an emergency medicine physician at SCPMG attributes this success to the peer-led nature of the training, stating, “[P]hysicians are more likely to retain information taught by people they know or trust.”

Source: American Medical Association