Physicians Spend Nearly Six Hours on EHRs for Every Eight Hours of Care

A recent study examining the time spent by physicians using electronic health records (EHRs) found that doctors average 5.8 hours of EHR work for every 8 hours of patient care, with 42% of this time occurring outside clinic hours. The research, which analyzed data from over 200,000 physicians, identified documentation as the most time-consuming task and highlighted that primary care and cognitive specialists utilize EHRs more than procedural specialists. While the findings may elicit criticism of EHR systems, Spencer Dorn, a medical professor, underscores the importance of acknowledging other influences on physician workflow and advocates for recognizing the advantages EHRs offer, such as enhanced communication and improved access to patient information.

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