Study: Physicians lose four hours a week on electronic medical records

According to a research letter published in JAMA Internal Medicine, physicians are losing an average of four hours a week recording patient information into electronic medical records (EMR).

 

Analyzing the results of a 19-question survey sent out by the American College of Physicians, researchers determined that the average time lost every day by attending physician was 48 minutes. Trainees who completed the survey reported losing 18 minutes a day on average.

 

Nearly 90% of respondents attributed the lost time to the fact that at least one data management function was slower after adopting EMR. Respondents also said it took longer to write notes, find and review medical record data, and read other clinicians’ notes using the EMR.