Introducing Building Your Physician EHR Satisfaction Program: A Series from Medix Technology

Perspective from Dr. Brian Patty, Chief Medical Informatics Officer, Medix Technology
Physician burnout is at an all-time high. At the start of 2020, physician burnout rates hovered around 50% nationally. With the onset of the pandemic and the associated stressors on healthcare teams, most organizations that have recently surveyed their providers on burnout perception before and after COVID-19 report up to a 15% increase in burnout levels, according to early results from the KLAS Arch Collaborative. One study found that “physician burnout is associated with a reduced efficiency of healthcare systems to deliver high-quality, safe care to patients.” This same study also found that burnout resulted in a two-fold increased risk of low patient-reported satisfaction.

The Link Between EHR Dissatisfaction and Burnout

EHR dissatisfaction is one of the leading causes of physician burnout. Findings from the KLAS Arch Collaborative indicate that “the more satisfied providers in a certain organization are with their EHR, the less likely it is that many providers in that organization are experiencing burnout.” Conversely, during my tenure as CMIO at Rush University Medical Center in Chicago, we demonstrated that improved EHR satisfaction is directly correlated with a decrease in burnout and physician turnover, along with its associated costs.

Creating a Successful Physician EHR Satisfaction Program

Establish a Strong Foundation

What is the best game plan for building a successful physician EHR satisfaction program? While the details will vary at each organization, the fundamental structure observed in the most successful organizations remains consistent. Ensure your EHR is up-to-date, well-configured, and supported by the necessary associated technologies.

1. Effective Onboarding and Continuous Training: Provide comprehensive onboarding and ongoing training to help providers maximize EHR efficiency.
2. Implementing Governance Structures: Establish a governance structure that incorporates voices from key provider workflows within your organization.
3. Personalization and Provider Engagement:Offer resources and opportunities for providers to personalize the EHR to align with their unique and specialty workflows.
4. Strategic Communication Practices: Communicate frequently and through multiple channels to keep end-users informed and demonstrate that their feedback is valued.

Build a House: The Metaphor for EHR Satisfaction Programs

Building a physician satisfaction program is like constructing a house. First, you need a strong foundation comprising a well-designed, well-implemented, and continually optimized EHR. No EHR functions in isolation, so incorporating essential associated technologies like voice recognition, medication management, and single sign-on (SSO) is crucial. Second, the house’s structure should consist of training, governance, and personalization. Lastly, the roof represents a well-balanced communication strategy that ties everything together.

Conclusion

Throughout this series, I will explore each of the strategies that collectively create a solid physician satisfaction program. Piece by piece, I will share my unique experiences and perspectives, along with the latest EHR research findings, to help guide providers in reducing burnout and improving satisfaction.

Interested in learning how Medix Technology can provide the leadership, guidance, and talent needed to accelerate the development of a successful and cost-effective physician satisfaction program at your organization? Get in touch with our team today.