I am not a clinician or even in a clinical setting. However, I have emotionally involved with that. I used to have a daily routine entering data into the system comparable to EHR. The data entry, at my company, is more than two systems plus spreadsheet occasionally. We were feeling like a machine, putting something into what we don’t know where it is going to go.
I felt that because I was not directly getting any immediate benefit from that.
I think many professions have been working with EHR-like systems for quite long compared to health care. The finance sector, for instance, has developed familiarity with EHR-like systems. The system has been merged into the field as work culture, so they do not feel burnt-out from that. It’s normal for the industry already.
I accept that the industry is incomparable to what physicians do in everyday life. The clinical field is more technical and more abstract.
I was burnt out too then. But now I am the one who can get benefit directly from the data entry. Without dedicated data entry, my report is nothing.
So to make sure that my report can have good data at all times, I often asked my junior to see my dashboard, and where the good data comes from. I could provide them such data for their personal interest or performance development if they need it. From my experience, they felt more energetic to do the routine when they know they can get immediate benefit from that personally not in general or as part of the whole.
I know this cannot compare to the hospital setting. Still, I would like to share the importance of communication and engagement within the organization. Hospitals should think more about how to motivate, reward, or encourage health professions, in general, by making the EHR be more friendly to health worker i.e., Professional development, particular own field interest, or maybe incentives to improve the satisfaction.