RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 Electronic health record’s effects on the outpatient office visit and clinical education
JF BMJ Health & Care Informatics
FD BMJ Publishing Group Ltd
SP 765
OP 771
DO 10.14236/jhi.v23i4.151
VO 23
IS 4
A1 Marie B. Sandoval
A1 Mary Val Palumbo
A1 Vicki Hart
YR 2016
UL http://informatics.bmj.com/content/23/4/765.abstract
AB Background Providers have the important cognitive task of attending to the patient while using the electronic health record (EHR) during an office visit. Prior literature has demonstrated that the EHR has had various effects on the office visit. This study focused on providers who were medical and nurse practitioner student preceptors, to determine their perception of the EHR on multiple distinct aspects of the office visit and clinical education.Methods Utilizing survey research, provider’s EHR utilization and perceptions were collected and summarized using descriptive statistics. The relationship between the time spent using the EHR and the distinct aspects of the visit was tested using Chi-square tests of association.Results Provider/preceptors (n = 83) reported a negative effect of EHR on the patient–provider connection, but a positive effect on the review of medications/medical records, communication between providers, review of results with patients and review of follow-up to testing results with patients. We observed no correlation between the provider’s time spent using the EHR and their perception of its effectiveness.Those who responded that the EHR negatively affected their ability to teach (34%) were significantly more likely to also report that the EHR negatively affected their ability to communicate with the patient while taking a history (p = 0.04).Conclusions Providers reported a positive perceived effect of the EHR on distinct aspects of the office visit, yet they also reported a negative perceived effect of EHR on patient–provider connection. Impacts on the perceived ability of some providers to teach students were also demonstrated.