EHR usability: 5 traits of a user-friendly system

Avoiding burnout with a user-friendly EHR

It’s a well-documented challenge facing healthcare providers.

In a 2022 Physician Burnout & Depression Report, Medscape found that 47% of physicians were burned out, up from 42% the previous year. Among those burned-out physicians, 28% cited the increasing computerization of the practice as a top reason.

If a more approachable EHR experience can reduce burnout, then what can make an EHR more user or  “person”-friendly?

Your path to EHR usability

A better experience using the EHR starts with your relationship with your health IT vendor. When your vendor considers the needs of your practice during all stages of the software build cycle, it can create systems based on your specifications. When the EHR is suited to your needs, your experience using it will improve.

The system should offer a productive — even engaging — experience for everyone using it. In general, the characteristics of a user-friendly EHR may be classified as follows:

1. Efficient: The EHR must do what you need it to do — quickly and easily. Time spent using your EHR should be productive and require as little extra effort as possible. In some cases, automation can help fill in details to save time, as can having favorites and templates.
2. Directed: Your experience should feature intuitive interactions and relevant content that’s easy to find. By delivering content in the right context, your EHR can spare you the need to go digging.
3. Supportive: The EHR should offer natural and seamless workflows that support the patient-provider experience. Rather than disrupt natural processes, the EHR should work behind the scenes to support them.
4. Intuitive: The EHR should agree with your patterns of work. The right system can reduce pressure on people to remember how to do certain actions. Also, an intuitive EHR should adopt new features quickly.
5. User-centered: When the EHR vendor takes a design-informed and user-centered approach, you’re more likely to be engaged. Early discovery activities such as journey mapping, surveys, roundtable discussions, and one-on-one interviews are great ways to contribute ideas. As soon as the vendor starts designing, it should brainstorm and collaborate with you on ways to improve the user experience. After that, the vendor may follow up by holding focus groups and usability testing. Then, when the software is ready for development, you can still be involved in early testing and other activities.

Meeting ADA standards

In an era of heavy screen use and computer reliance, a user-friendly EHR is a must. But does the system meet Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) requirements?

According to the ADA, which has been law since 1990, certain businesses with 15 or more employees must provide “reasonable accommodation” to people with disabilities.

Although the ADA issued standards for accessible design in 2010, it does not go into detail about what makes EHR or even web design accessible. Still, covered businesses are required to make systems accessible to people with disabilities.

If you’re unsure whether your EHR meets ADA standards, you should raise those concerns with your vendor.

EHR usability in the long run

Consider the central role the EHR plays at your practice. It collects, analyzes, and puts forth information. It should help providers do their jobs rather than distract from their work. 

Improving EHR usability can help onboard new staff and reduce burnout and fatigue. In other words, it can improve the experience for everyone involved.