Physician Time Spent Using the Electronic Health Record During Outpatient Encounters
Authors: John Weiser
Journal: Annals of Internal Medicine (2020)

Letters6 October 2020Physician Time Spent Using the Electronic Health Record During Outpatient EncountersJohn Weiser, MD, MPHJohn Weiser, MD, MPHAtlanta, Georgia (J.W.)Search for more papers by this authorAuthor, Article, and Disclosure Informationhttps://doi.org/10.7326/L20-0274 SectionsAboutFull TextPDF ToolsAdd to favoritesDownload CitationsTrack CitationsPermissions ShareFacebookTwitterLinkedInRedditEmail TO THE EDITOR:Overhage and McCallie (1) reported that primary care physicians and ambulatory medical subspecialists actively used electronic health records (EHRs) for an average of 16 minutes and 14 seconds per patient encounter. Eleven percent of this time was spent after hours. Physicians whose work is primarily cognitive spent the most time actively using EHRs.Adler-Milstein's editorial (2) that accompanied Overhage and McCallie's article asks 2 questions: Is this too much time, and how can required clinical information be generated most efficiently? Although answering these questions is critical, an even more immediate question is: When do physicians, especially those ...References1. Overhage JM, McCallie D. Physician time spent using the electronic health record during outpatient encounters. A descriptive study. Ann Intern Med. 2020;172:169-74. [PMID: 31931523]. doi:10.7326/M18-3684 LinkGoogle Scholar2. Adler-Milstein J. Electronic health record time among outpatient physicians: reflections on the who, what, and why. Ann Intern Med. 2020;172:212-3. [PMID: 31931522]. doi:10.7326/M19-3921 LinkGoogle Scholar3. Rao A, Shi Z, Ray KN, et al. National trends in primary care visit use and practice capabilities, 2008-2015. Ann Fam Med. 2019;17:538-44. [PMID: 31712292] doi:10.1370/afm.2474 CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar4. NEJM Career Center. Medscape physician compensation report 2019: earnings up, but satisfaction with compensation is a mixed bag. 10 May 2019. Accessed at www.nejmcareercenter.org/article/medscape-physician-compensation-report-2019-earnings-up-but-satisfaction-with-compensation-is-a-mixed-bag/?s=9 on 28 August 2020. Google Scholar5. Medicare Payment Advisory Commission. March 2018 Report to the Congress: Medicare Payment Policy 2018. Medicare Payment Advisory Commission; 2018. Google Scholar Author, Article, and Disclosure InformationAffiliations: Atlanta, Georgia (J.W.)Disclosures: Disclosures can be viewed at www.acponline.org/authors/icmje/ConflictOfInterestForms.do?msNum=L20-0274. PreviousarticleNextarticle Advertisement FiguresReferencesRelatedDetailsSee AlsoPhysician Time Spent Using the Electronic Health Record During Outpatient Encounters J. Marc Overhage and David McCallie Jr. Physician Time Spent Using the Electronic Health Record During Outpatient Encounters Joseph A. Stankaitis Physician Time Spent Using the Electronic Health Record During Outpatient Encounters Abigail Zuger Physician Time Spent Using the Electronic Health Record During Outpatient Encounters Kiyofumi Oya , Yuta Ishiyama , and Kashiwagi Hideyuki Physician Time Spent Using the Electronic Health Record During Outpatient Encounters J. Marc Overhage and David McCallie Metrics 6 October 2020Volume 173, Issue 7Page: 592KeywordsCurrent procedural terminologyDisclosureElectronic medical recordsMedicareOutpatientsPatientsPrimary carePrimary care physiciansResource based relative value scaleSub-specialty care ePublished: 6 October 2020 Issue Published: 6 October 2020 Copyright & PermissionsCopyright © 2020 by American College of Physicians. All Rights Reserved.PDF downloadLoading ...