Healthcare employees dedicate their lives to helping others, but an increasing number are experiencing burnout. The introduction of Electronic Health Record (EHR) systems, like Epic, has revolutionized patient care but also brought significant challenges for doctors, nurses, technical staff, and other healthcare workers. Let’s explore the specific causes of burnout and how they affect various roles.
What is Employee Burnout?
Burnout is a state of emotional, physical, and mental exhaustion caused by prolonged stress. In healthcare, it often stems from heavy workloads, inefficient systems, and a lack of work-life balance. Epic EHR, while intended to improve efficiency and patient care, has unintentionally contributed to these challenges.
Common Causes of Burnout Related to Epic EHR
1. Increased Administrative Workload
- Doctors and Nurses:
- Instead of focusing on patients, they spend hours documenting encounters in Epic.
- Example: A physician may spend two extra hours after their shift completing notes and inputting data into the system, often referred to as “pajama time.”
- Impact: Less time with patients, leading to frustration and decreased job satisfaction.
2. Complex Interfaces and Navigation
- Technical Staff:
- Constant requests to create custom workflows or fix navigation issues for clinical teams.
- Doctors and Nurses:
- Difficulty finding critical patient information buried under layers of menus.
- Impact: Time wasted figuring out the system adds to stress and reduces efficiency.
3. Alert Fatigue
- All Healthcare Staff:
- Epic generates numerous alerts, many of which are non-critical.
- Example: Nurses ignoring alerts because 90% are irrelevant, increasing the risk of missing important warnings.
- Impact: Overwhelmed staff feel desensitized and less engaged.
4. Lack of Customization
- Doctors and Nurses:
- The system often doesn’t align with their workflows.
- Example: Specialists like cardiologists find Epic’s templates geared toward general practitioners, making their documentation more cumbersome.
- Technical Staff:
- Constantly pressured to develop workarounds for system limitations.
- Impact: Employees feel the technology is working against them rather than supporting them.
5. Pressure to Meet Metrics
- Doctors and Nurses:
- Epic often integrates performance tracking, such as time spent per patient or chart closure rates.
- Example: Physicians are pushed to close charts quickly, leading to rushed documentation and stress.
- Impact: Metrics-driven pressure overshadows the human element of care.
6. Unrealistic Implementation Timelines
- IT and Technical Staff:
- Rolling out Epic requires intense training and support during go-live periods, often leading to weeks of 60–80-hour workweeks.
- Clinical Staff:
- Abrupt transitions to Epic lead to confusion and resistance.
- Impact: Exhaustion and resentment toward the system.
7. Work-Life Imbalance
- All Employees:
- Epic’s mobile app (Haiku/Canto) allows work to follow employees home, creating an “always-on” expectation.
- Example: A nurse feels pressured to review patient charts on their day off to prepare for the next shift.
- Impact: Difficulty disconnecting from work exacerbates burnout.
8. Poor Support and Training
- Doctors, Nurses, and Administrative Staff:
- Minimal initial training and inadequate ongoing support.
- Example: A new hire struggles to use Epic effectively, leading to slower work and frustration.
- Impact: Employees feel unsupported and overwhelmed.
What Can Be Done to Address Burnout?
For Organizations:
- Streamline Workflows: Partner with clinical teams to customize Epic to meet specific needs.
- Improve Training: Offer ongoing, hands-on support to build confidence in using the system.
- Reduce Alert Fatigue: Audit alerts and eliminate non-essential notifications.
- Set Realistic Expectations: Avoid over-reliance on metrics and allow flexibility in charting practices.
For Employees:
- Advocate for Change: Provide constructive feedback to leadership about system inefficiencies.
- Leverage Support Tools: Use Epic’s help resources and collaborate with IT to simplify workflows.
- Prioritize Self-Care: Set boundaries for work-life balance and seek peer support when needed.
Final Thoughts
Epic EHR has the potential to enhance patient care, but without thoughtful implementation and maintenance, it can contribute to burnout. By addressing the specific challenges healthcare workers face, organizations can create a healthier, more productive environment for all employees.
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