Why are physicians disillusioned with their EHRs?

40% of physicians are unhappy with their EHRs! The reason behind their disillusionmen

The healthcare industry is poised for change. Archaic paper records are making way for svelte, new electronic medical records that can transform the way physicians work. Sounds like a perfect dream.

Except for the fact, several physicians find working with EHRs a nightmare and would rather go back to paper records. Critics say that it is a passing fad. A case of “I hate my EHR too”. But there is a screw loose somewhere…

Point, click and wait till patients lose their cool!

Having to put up with bad hardware, cumbersome templates and poorly designed interfaces are one reason why physicians hate their electronic records with a passion. And God forbid if there is a power outage or fluctuating bandwidth. Stuck with a workflow that doesn’t work or flow is the reason for such widespread dissatisfaction.

Qualifying for Meaningful Use is a huge task in itself. EHRs that do not match MU requirements compound the problem further.

Doctors don’t belong to the stone ages…

Contrary to what people think physicians are not averse to using technology. From, using lasers, fiber optics and scanners to iPhones, physicians have always been tech savvy. The argument of healthcare professionals falling behind times doesn’t hold any water.

 Physicians find EHRs clunky and the fact that they are not mobile. Most EMR systems have been frustratingly slow in going mobile and some of them haven’t even taken the first baby steps towards mobile technology. It is not technology but how complicated and expensive it is that is the major problem.

Well-intentioned but the outcome counts as well!

There is no doubt that healthcare technology is liberating, more integrated and super quick. The major shortcoming of EHRs is that that they are not centered on the needs of physicians. It is on the other hand governed by federal mandates.

EHR vendors should stop playing by the rules of bureaucrats and develop systems that benefit their end users. Healthcare professionals are consumers of HIT. And should be given the kind of importance, consumers of other products enjoy. That could probably be the only lasting solution to the problem of disgruntled EHR users.