Healthcare IT News: Clinician Burden

Healthcare organizations often involve clinicians in administrative services (like clinical documentation, EHR usability) other than patient services, which create pressure on them called a clinical burden. Clinical burden sometimes results in poor health outcomes as the clinicians do not get enough time to focus on their patients. Although healthcare professionals consider clinical documentation and other health IT-related tasks as a critical support tool for the delivery of clinical services, it sometimes becomes a source of frustration and lack of attention. This, in turn, may result in poor health outcomes and even deferral of services. To overcome this situation, ONC (Office of the National Coordinator) for Health Information Technology has recommended a strategic plan which includes a series of steps that suggest clinicians should focus on their patients rather than any administrative task. This will be helpful for patients because their physicians will spend more time on their health instead of typing on their keyboards.