Obstetrician/gynecologists' experiences with electronic health record systems: a narrative study

Area of Science:

• Medical Informatics
• Health Services Research
• Obstetrics and Gynecology

Background:

• Electronic Health Records (EHRs) are increasingly adopted in clinical practice.
• Understanding physician experiences is crucial for optimizing EHR systems.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the experiences of obstetrician/gynecologists (ob/gyns) with EHR systems.
• To identify facilitators and barriers to effective EHR use in ob/gyn practices.

Main Methods:

• A survey was distributed to 1,200 ob/gyns, yielding a 57.2% response rate.
• 402 physicians using EHR systems provided data on system use and feature helpfulness.
• A focus group with 6 ob/gyns offered qualitative insights into EHR experiences.

Main Results:

• 61.4% of surveyed ob/gyns reported satisfaction with their current EHR system.
• Commonly cited challenges included time constraints, poor templates, note quality, patient interaction interference, and cost.
• Praised features included electronic prescribing (e-scribing), improved efficiency, and accessible, legible notes.

Conclusions:

• Despite widespread EHR adoption, significant opportunities exist to enhance ob/gyn satisfaction.
• Addressing identified barriers is essential for improving the usability and effectiveness of EHRs in ob/gyn settings.