A Multiyear Survey Evaluating Clinician Electronic Health Record Satisfaction

Area of Science:

• Health Informatics
• Medical Systems Research
• Clinical User Experience

Background:

• Transitioning from homegrown to vendor electronic health records (EHRs) impacts clinician satisfaction.
• Assessing changes in clinician satisfaction over time is vital for system improvement.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the evolution of clinician satisfaction with a vendor EHR system in the four years post-transition.
• To identify specific areas within the EHR system that require improvement to enhance user experience.

Main Methods:

• A multiyear survey was administered to clinicians across a large healthcare system.
• Surveys collected data on task difficulty, EHR value, usability, and overall satisfaction from 2016 to 2019.
• Statistical analyses, including comparison of means and multivariable modeling, were used to analyze satisfaction trends.

Main Results:

• Clinician satisfaction at one institution significantly increased from 2016 to 2019.
• No significant systemwide difference in overall satisfaction was observed between 2018 and 2019 surveys.
• Clinicians identified challenges with medication adherence monitoring, referral tracking, and patient list generation, and disagreed with statements on EHR efficiency and patient care focus.

Conclusions:

• Survey findings highlight the need for continued focus on improving EHR usability.
• Addressing clinician-identified difficulties and enhancing EHR efficiency can reduce burden and improve the overall clinician experience.