Three Proven Strategies to Get Physicians Home for Dinner
Physicians are heroes in our healthcare system, so it is not surprising that much of the country is alarmed that we are experiencing a physician shortage. The COVID-19 pandemic was just the start of what the Association of American Medical Colleges estimates will be a 54,100 to 139,000 physician shortage by 2033. Physicians are burned out as a result of long hours, tricky technology, constant change, and a population that has grown sicker than it has been in over 100 years. So, how do we combat all of this? Let’s get our physicians home for dinner.
1. Reduce Technology Fatigue
According to a recent study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association, physicians spend more than an hour per day addressing EHR notifications. This time is either ripped from the patient or from physicians’ loved ones. Technology is meant to help make our lives easier, automate simple tasks, and give more time for real human interactions. If an EHR isn’t enabling this, then it wasn’t set up right, the staff wasn’t properly trained, and ongoing support is lacking.
For a streamlined EHR, consult health IT experts to pinpoint problem areas and help answer the following important questions: What tasks can be automated further to reduce inefficient workflows? What comprehensive training is needed for both physicians and other clinical and non-clinical staff? Where can you invest in more support staff that would make a difference to overall physician satisfaction? Hiring scribes who are responsible for all charting and documentation can free up physicians, allowing them to be present with their patients.
2. Provide Organizational Support
With months of preparation and training, go-live can often feel like the finish line of a marathon, but the need for support doesn’t end there. A post-implementation evaluation is essential to assess whether your implementation was done right. This will help highlight the benefits and costs in contrast with the proposed budget. If the evaluation finds an increase in revenue and efficiency due to the automation of financial, clinical, and administrative tasks, you are well on your way.
But still, even after this, there will be hiccups. Staff will need support from application specific IT professionals for the full life cycle of your technology. And in the case of an EHR implementation, patients need support using the patient portal. This support can make a big difference in both patient satisfaction, and patient care. The time and resources needed to provide around-the-clock support services can’t be managed by your staff alone and certainly not by your clinicians.
3. Provide Personal Support
The American Association for Physician Leadership notes that the most effective strategies for reducing burnout rates involve a combination of individual and organizational initiatives. If long hours, hectic schedules, new technology, and time away from loved ones aren’t taxing enough, our clinicians are also dealing with sickness and death daily. It is no surprise that being a physician takes a toll on your mental health. Clinical staff need access to emotional support as needed through support groups, employee assistance programs, hotlines, and more.
At EHR Concepts, our Triple Down Support Solution offers a support service model that is more than a helpdesk. We ensure that our support specialists are skilled experts in your EHR and PM applications and can provide Tier 1 -3 support.