Cognitive load with the EHR and burnout:

why aren’t we measuring this more?

Dr. Elizabeth Harry, image from twitter

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S1553725020302464

Thank goodness for smart colleagues. Dr. Elizabeth Harry is first author on an important work that ties physician/provider task load to burnout. See link above. 

Using the NASA task load index, and the Maslach burnout inventory, she was able to demonstrate a substantial correlation with an increased task load (mental, physical, and temporal demands, and perception of effort) and burnout.

Far from pointing the finger at EHR’s alone, task load generalizes across many industries, with electronic tools such as the EHR being a major negative or positive influence.

I can see a fruitful future line of investigation and collaboration with this measurement tool.

CMIO’s take? How are YOU measuring and tackling provider burnout?

Author: CT Lin

CMIO, UCHealth (Colorado); Professor, University of Colorado School of Medicine

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