The full usage and implementation of electronic medical records, or EMRs, has been an uphill battle. Between exorbitant deployment costs and time-consuming workflows, physicians have struggled to maximize this part of their profession.
But voice-enabled EMRs may provide relief for physicians struggling with burnout as well as the ability to streamline clinical documentation and spend more time with patients. Here's why voice-enabled EMRs may be the answer.
Physician Burnout and Job Dissatisfaction
Recent data has indicated that physicians and other healthcare providers are continuing to struggle on many fronts — from emotional and physical exhaustion to dissatisfaction with the amount of time spent on documentation and the limited time available for patients.
A December 2015 Mayo Clinic study surveyed nearly 7,000 U.S. physicians, assessing burnout levels based on the Maslach Burnout Inventory and comparing responses with a similar study conducted in 2011. More than half of physicians, almost 55 percent, reported at least one symptom of professional burnout — up roughly 10 percent from 2011. Satisfaction with work-life balance also dropped approximately 8 percent over the same timeframe.
Interestingly, when compared to a sampling of employed U.S. adults, whose rates of burnout and work-life satisfaction had changed minimally from 2011 to 2014, this indicated "an increasing disparity in burnout and satisfaction with work-life balance in physicians relative to the general US working population."
The 2016 Medscape Lifestyle Report corroborated much of this data as well, but delved further into the causes of burnout and job dissatisfaction. The three top reasons included:
· Too many bureaucratic tasks;
· Spending too many hours at work; and
· Increasing computerization of practice.
Lastly, a 2016 study published in the Annals of Internal Medicine found that physicians spent 27 percent of their day conducting direct clinical face time with patients, but 49 percent of their time on EMR tasks and desk work. Despite significant time spent on paperwork and electronic documentation, some physicians also reported an additional one to two more hours of similar tasks after hours. So for every hour of direct clinical face time with patients, physicians spent almost two additional hours on EMR and desk work each clinic day.
It's clear that physicians are struggling to gain EMR efficiencies, which may be a primary contributor to overall levels of job dissatisfaction and burnout. Things have to change.
Voice-Enabled EMRs Can Provide Relief
Fortunately, there is an alternative. Voice recognition software can streamline clinical documentation and workflows, allowing physicians to spend more face-to-face time with patients and less time glued to a computer screen.
The key, though, is to choose the software wisely; otherwise, frustrated users may find that stress and dissatisfaction levels are likely to keep growing. Some voice recognition software requires complicated integration or excessive learning curves, both resulting in costly downtime and potential documentation errors.
When shopping for voice recognition software, look for the following:
· Short learning curve: The ability to learn the software and be productive within a short time frame (ideally less than one hour maximum).
· Simple integration: Software seamlessly integrates with EMR and does not require expensive IT workarounds or hardware investments.
· Improved metrics: Usage should result in measurable improvements such as higher quality documentation, gains in timeliness and accuracy, and a reduction in errors and time spent performing clinical documentation.
· Cloud computing: Choosing a cloud-based platform offers several advantages including lower upfront investment, fewer IT worries, easier collaboration, and simplified disaster recovery.
· Flexible payment structure: Avoid getting locked into complex or long-term pricing until you know that the software performs as promised. Instead, opt for a pay-as-you-go or subscription pricing model initially.
Once you find a viable voice recognition platform and make the leap to a voice-enabled EMR, your time spent in the EMR should decrease while face-to-face time with patients increases. Both of which may lead to lower levels of burnout and job dissatisfaction, and ultimately, improved outcomes for your patients too.
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