Abstract
BackgroundDespite mandates and incentives for electronic health record (EHR) adoption, little is known about factors predicting physicians’ satisfaction following EHR implementation.ObjectiveTo measure predictors of physician satisfaction following EHR adoption.MethodsA total of 163 physicians completed a mailed survey before and after EHR implementation through a statewide pilot project in Massachusetts. Multivariable logistic regression identified predictors of physician satisfaction with their current practice situation in 2009 and generalized estimating equations accounted for clustering.ResultsThe response rate was 77% in 2005 and 68% in 2009. In 2005, prior to EHR adoption, 28% of physicians were very satisfied with their current practice situation compared to 25% in 2009, following EHR adoption (P < .001). In multivariate analysis, physician satisfaction following EHR adoption was correlated with self-reported ease of EHR implementation (adjusted odds ratio [OR] = 5.7, 95% CI 2.1 - 16), resources for practice improvement (adjusted OR = 2.6, 95% CI 1.2 - 6.1), pre-intervention satisfaction (adjusted OR = 4.8, 95% CI 1.5 - 15), and stress (adjusted OR = 5.3, 95% CI 1.1 - 25). Male physicians reported lower satisfaction following EHR adoption (adjusted OR = 0.3, 95% CI 0.2 - 0.6).ConclusionsInterventions to expand EHR use should consider additional support for practices with fewer resources for improvement and ensure ease of EHR implementation. EHR adoption may be a factor in alleviating physicians’ stress. Addressing physicians’ satisfaction prior to practice transformation and anticipating greater dissatisfaction among male physicians will be essential to retaining the physician workforce and ensuring the quality of care they deliver.
Highlights
MethodsElectronic health records (EHRs) have the potential to transform health care by improving the quality and safety of care delivered, if adopted on a wide-scale basis
We confirmed that satisfaction post-EHR adoption was strongly associated with the physician-reported training level of the EHR vendor (P = .002) and the quality of assistance provided by Massachusetts eHealth Collaborative (MAeHC) senior leadership (P < .001) and staff (P = .002), but found that prompt support from the information technology (IT) support team for problems related to the EHR application, or for hardware or network connectivity, did not impact practice satisfaction (Table 3)
We found that one of the strongest predictors of physicians reportingsatisfaction post-EHR adoption was the ease with which the EHR implementation occurred
Summary
MethodsElectronic health records (EHRs) have the potential to transform health care by improving the quality and safety of care delivered, if adopted on a wide-scale basis. EHR users were found to be generally satisfied with their system [3] Another cross-sectional study of physicians’ EHR-related satisfaction found that it was time-dependent and associated with use of a more robust EHR [5]. Despite mandates and incentives for electronic health record (EHR) adoption, little is known about factors predicting physicians’ satisfaction following EHR implementation. Physician satisfaction following EHR adoption was correlated with self-reported ease of EHR implementation (adjusted odds ratio [OR] = 5.7, 95% CI 2.1 - 16), resources for practice improvement (adjusted OR = 2.6, 95% CI 1.2 - 6.1), pre-intervention satisfaction (adjusted OR = 4.8, 95% CI 1.5 - 15), and stress (adjusted OR = 5.3, 95% CI 1.1 - 25). Addressing physicians’ satisfaction prior to practice transformation and anticipating greater dissatisfaction among male physicians will be essential to retaining the physician workforce and ensuring the quality of care they deliver
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
