Primary care physicians' electronic health record proficiency and efficiency behaviors and time interacting with electronic health records: a quantile regression analysis

Abstract

Objective: This study aimed to understand the association between primary care physician (PCP) proficiency with the electronic health record (EHR) system and time spent interacting with the EHR.

Materials and methods: We examined the use of EHR proficiency tools among PCPs at one large academic health system using EHR-derived measures of clinician EHR proficiency and efficiency. Our main predictors were the use of EHR proficiency tools and our outcomes focused on 4 measures assessing time spent in the EHR: (1) total time spent interacting with the EHR, (2) time spent outside scheduled clinical hours, (3) time spent documenting, and (4) time spent on inbox management. We conducted multivariable quantile regression models with fixed effects for physician-level factors and time in order to identify factors that were independently associated with time spent in the EHR.

Results: Across 441 primary care physicians, we found mixed associations between certain EHR proficiency behaviors and time spent in the EHR. Across EHR activities studied, QuickActions, SmartPhrases, and documentation length were positively associated with increased time spent in the EHR. Models also showed a greater amount of help from team members in note writing was associated with less time spent in the EHR and documenting.

Discussion: Examining the prevalence of EHR proficiency behaviors may suggest targeted areas for initial and ongoing EHR training. Although documentation behaviors are key areas for training, team-based models for documentation and inbox management require further study.

Conclusions: A nuanced association exists between physician EHR proficiency and time spent in the EHR.

Keywords: EHR optimization; EHR use; documentation burden; primary care physicians.