Physicians spend more than 16 minutes of each patient visit with EHRs

Electronic health records are a mainstay in doctors’ offices, and a new study finds that physicians spend, on average, more than 16 minutes of each patient visit on EHRs. Data from around 100 million patient visits by 155,000 physicians revealed that the biggest component of doctors’ time with EHRs was reviewing patient charts, followed by documenting the visit and ordering tests and medications. Gerontologists were most active on EHRs — spending more than 13 minutes per patient visit per day — followed by endocrinologists with nearly 12 minutes. More than 10% of doctors’ time with EHRs happened on weekends or after 6 p.m. The study didn’t answer, however, whether the time spent on EHRs was the appropriate amount to best help patients or if physicians should make adjustments.