Optimizing EHR Usability and Satisfaction With Custom Healthcare Software

Colleagues, our team’s ability to deliver excellent care relies heavily on having electronic health record (EHR) systems that are optimized for efficiency, usability, and satisfaction. But as we know all too well, standard out-of-the-box EHR solutions come with major usability limitations that hinder clinician productivity and adoption. To overcome these EHR challenges, partnering with an experienced health IT developer to create customized EHR software tailored to our unique needs and workflows is the ideal approach. Let’s examine the frustrations of typical EHR systems and how purpose-built solutions can drive better experiences and outcomes.

The EHR Usability Problem

There’s no question EHRs provide indispensable benefits like consolidated clinical data, reduced paperwork, and improved care coordination. However, research shows clinician frustration and burnout resulting from poor EHR usability remains rampant industry-wide. Some of the top problems include:

• Clunky, cluttered interfaces
• Overwhelming data entry demands
• Fragmented workflows
• Alert fatigue from excessive pop-ups
• Difficulty finding and visualizing patient information
• Lack of customization to match clinical workflows

Such usability limitations lead to reduced productivity, errors, friction with staff, and lower job satisfaction. They also contribute to physician burnout, which harms quality of care delivery according to studies. Clearly, the usability and experience gaps with standard EHR products are unacceptable barriers to our practice’s success. We must explore better solutions.

The Case for Customized EHR Software

To overcome the pitfalls of standard “one size fits none” EHR systems, our smartest move is partnering with an experienced health IT developer to create personalized EHR software optimized for our unique needs. Here are some of the benefits customized EHR solutions offer our practice:

Intuitive Clinician Workflows

Solicit in-depth input from our providers to design simplified workflows and templates that mirror best practices. This saves time and cognitive load.

Optimized Data Entry

Build customized forms, smart templates, and workflows to streamline documentation relevant to our specialty to maximize efficiency.

Actionable Visualizations

Create intuitive data dashboards that surface patient information providers need instantly without clicks and scrolling to support smarter care decisions.

Contextual Alerts

Configure alerts to deliver clinically relevant reminders and prompts within the physician’s workflow to avoid alert fatigue.

Interoperability

APIs easily and securely integrate our custom EHR with ancillary systems like practice management, labs, pharmacies, and patient portals.

Ongoing Optimization

Continually refine and enhance our system to meet evolving needs and innovations. Our IT partner handles all upkeep and improvements.

Improved Outcomes

With optimized workflows and readily accessible patient data, providers deliver better-coordinated care leading to improved quality metrics and patient outcomes.

Increased Clinician Satisfaction

By removing EHR friction points and streamlining workflows specifically for our practice, customized software improves job satisfaction, reducing burnout and turnover.

Enhanced Patient Experiences

More efficient and satisfied clinicians improve patients’ care experiences and perceptions of our practice.

Clearly, purpose-built EHR software provides total flexibility to create the ideal user experience our providers need to deliver their best care and derive maximum satisfaction.

Best Practices for a Successful Implementation

To ensure our EHR software project achieves the desired impacts for clinicians and patients alike, here are some evidence-based best practices to follow:

Conduct User Research

Get comprehensive input from all clinician roles through interviews, shadowing, surveys, and focus groups to intimately understand needs.

Prototype and Iterate

Have the IT partner rapidly build interface prototypes for user testing. Refine them through multiple feedback loops before launch.

Communicate Goals and Metrics

Share the project goals and quantitative metrics for assessing improvements with all stakeholders to maintain alignment.

Take a Phased Approach

Roll out new components gradually by specialty starting with pilot groups. Use feedback to refine features before expanded launch.

Provide Ongoing Training

Deliver training resources through multiple modalities along with on-demand support to smooth the user learning curve.

Continuously Optimize

Frequently collect user feedback post-launch to quickly resolve issues and identify new opportunities for workflow enhancements.

Adhering to such implementation best practices sets the stage for successfully achieving our EHR project goals.

Let’s Collaborate on Software to Make Us Better

In closing, off-the-shelf EHR systems significantly hinder our ability to deliver efficient effective care. But by partnering to build fully customized EHR software aligned with our precise needs, we can overcome these barriers. Purpose-built solutions provide the intuitive workflows, streamlined data access, and flexibility required to raise clinician productivity, satisfaction, and quality of care to new levels. I welcome your perspectives on how we can collaborate to create the ideal software for supporting our team’s excellence. Please share your vision for how customized technology can help us better serve the needs of both patients and providers.