As I am currently being forced
to learn yet another EMR
system (first, it was MediTech
followed by Cerner, then
Allscripts, and now – EPIC), I
have finally had to admit that – unlike my
first wife – this will never go away. EMR
was brought to us in 2009 by the same
generous souls who invented income
taxes and the Vietnam War, and is now
an integral part of our medical practices.
Those young whippersnappers who went
through residency with an EMR have a
decided advantage over us “Old Heads”
who had little experience with a computer,
much less an electronic chart, until these
regulations hit the proverbial fan about a
decade ago.
So now that we must all admit EMRs
are here to stay, it’s time to shrug off the
passive-aggressive approaches that many
of us have used in the past – up until
about 3 months ago for me - and become
the Captains of our own Fate and our
medical records as well! Let’s address the
hospital environment first.
Set Time Aside to Learn
the System
Nothing promotes feelings of burnout
more than falling further and further
behind in your daily schedule. Encountering
continual slow-downs with the new
computer system is common and cuts into
productivity. Set aside adequate time after
the initial mandatory training, usually an
extra 30-45 minutes each day for the first
few weeks, to catch up on records and
tweak your skills with the system. This
avoids bottlenecks cutting into your regular
work schedule or keeping you from getting
home on time. You can start the office
later or get to the hospital earlier –
dealer’s choice – but carve this
time out so you won’t be
pressured to “get by” rather
than actually learn the new
EMR.
Let the Templates and
Order Sets Do the Work
Well-designed templates for frequent
encounters/procedures are a must.
Order sets for common clinical situations
save time and can improve efficiency.
Templates for admission H&Ps, consult
and procedure notes can eventually speed
up seeing patients while including the
documentation needed to support your
billing codes and cover your malpractice
risks. Most EMRs come with basic
templates you can adapt to fit your needs.
If you’re struggling, borrow these from your
HOUSE CALL
How to
Train Your
EMR
By Brent W. Bost, MD, FACOG
6 DALLAS MEDICAL JOURNAL • June 2020