Why Residency Programs Should Not Ignore the Electronic Heath Record after Adoption

Area of Science:

• Medical Education
• Health Informatics
• Clinical Workflow

Background:

• Electronic Health Records (EHR) are essential tools for resident physicians.
• Effective EHR use requires knowledge of data location and efficient documentation.
• Current EHR studies are limited by single-institution data and small participant numbers.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore the nuances of resident electronic health record (EHR) usage.
• To inform educators about how residents interact with EHR systems.
• To identify EHR proficiency as a factor in assessing resident performance.

Main Methods:

• Study data on EHR workflow were collected from a limited number of participants and specialties.
• Analysis focused on understanding the specific ways residents utilize EHR functionalities.

Main Results:

• Resident EHR usage patterns vary, influenced by institutional differences in EHR vendors.
• Understanding these usage subtleties is crucial for effective training and assessment.

Conclusions:

• Integrating EHR skills assessment into residency training is vital.
• Collaboration with EHR vendors is necessary to develop validated tools for performance evaluation.
• Improved EHR proficiency enhances patient care communication and safety.