Using an electronic health records eats 48 minutes of doctors’ free time daily – or 4 hours per week – according to a survey of family physicians.

At least one data management function took more time when using an EHR than when using a paper-based system, according to 411 family physicians who responded to a survey conducted by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) and the American College of Physicians. The results were published Sept. 8 in JAMA Internal Medicine (2014 Sept. 8 [doi:10.1001/jamainternmed.2014.4506]).

A new survey questions whether or not electronic health records are as beneficial to physicians as they seem.

Functions that took longer with an EHR included returning telephone calls; managing messages, refill requests, or new test results; writing visit notes; ordering and scheduling tests; finding and reviewing medical records; writing prescriptions; and reading colleagues; clinical notes.

Nearly 64% of respondents, all of whom were experienced EHR users, reported that "note writing took longer," according to Dr. Clement McDonald of NLM and his associates. "Surprisingly, a third (34%) reported that it took longer to find and review medical record data with the [EHR] than without, and a similar proportion, 32%, [reported] that it was slower to read other clinicians’ notes."

Respondents reported using a wide variety of systems, with 61 distinct EHR systems being identified. However, nine systems were used by 20 or more respondents and accounted for 79% (324) of all users responding to the survey. Of these nine, the Veterans Affairs’ Computer Patient Record System was associated with lowest amount of free time loss at less than 20 minutes per day.

"The loss of free time that our respondents reported was large and pervasive and could decrease access or increase the cost of care" Dr. McDonald wrote. "Policy makers should consider these time costs in future [EHR] mandates."

The authors reported no conflicts of interest.

The study was funded by the National Library of Medicine and the American College of Physicians. The authors reported no conflicts of interest.

gtwachtman@frontlinemedcom.com

EHRs rob physicians of 4 hours of free time per week