EHRs with Poor Usability More Likely to miss Medical Errors

University of Utah Health system research highlights the critical role of user-friendliness in Electronic Health Records (EHRs). The study indicates that EHRs with complex interfaces lead to more missed medical errors, potentially harming patients. Clinicians often find EHR alerts and notifications distracting and suggest better design. The findings underscore the need to enhance EHR usability and safety. Customized EHRs by individual hospitals without standardized usability guidelines may compromise safety. Collaborative efforts involving EHR vendors, hospitals, and physicians are recommended to optimize EHR software for improved usability and patient safety.