The Keys to EHR Usability

According to the Practice Profitability Index, a survey of more than 5,000 medical providers, 25% of U.S. physicians are looking to replace their current EHR. This harrowing statistic may be a sign that some EHRs just aren’t performing up to par.

The reality is many lackluster EHRs have sloppy user interfaces that aren’t acceptable by today’s consumer standards set by Android and Apple’s stunning platforms.

Below, we reveal why some EHR interfaces are so difficult for doctors to implement and how a user-friendly EHR like CareCloud Charts counters these problems.

EHR Shortcomings

Although EHRs are supposed to improve upon paper workflows, many make things worse by eliminating the ability to multitask. In a busy physician practice, going one step at a time just won’t cut it.

The problem lies in vendors, not understanding physician needs. Some EHR developers rely solely on input from staffers with medical or nursing degrees rather than testing their software in its natural environment: the physician practice.

Proper testing reveals that physicians need the ability to customize fields. User customization allows practices to configure their EHR in such a way that charting and other vital functions are executed with maximum efficiency.

Another problem is old-fashioned software. Working on an outdated system can be tough, as old user interfaces don’t compare to the simplified and sophisticated interface tools of today.

What Makes an EHR Usable?

A user-friendly EHR focuses in on the three primary pillars of EHR usability: simplicity, efficiency and design.

Simplicity is a matter of intuitiveness. An intuitive EHR allows physicians to use the system with almost no learning curve. Efficiency should extend from the learning process to data capture. Charting should be fast, improving outcomes by letting the doctor record accurate patient notes in real-time.

Lastly, beautiful design isn’t just a superficial factor. Because doctors spend so much time using their EHR, a dull or boring design affects usability in the long run.

The term user-friendly isn’t just industry jargon. An EHR can have all the features in the world, but they’re useless if they aren’t easy to use. Now that you know what to look for and what to avoid, you should be able to find a system that is more liberating than frustrating.

Find out how CareCloud Charts has made usability an art form by contacting us at 1-877-342-7517 or hello@carecloud.com.

A version of this article was originally published on our sister site, Power Your Practice. Click here to read the original story.

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