Teaching Electronic Health Record Communication Skills

Abstract

This pilot study investigated nurse practitioner students' communication skills when utilizing the electronic health record during history taking. The nurse practitioner students (n = 16) were videotaped utilizing the electronic health record while taking health histories with standardized patients. The students were videotaped during two separate sessions during one semester. Two observers recorded the time spent (1) typing and talking, (2) typing only, and (3) looking at the computer without talking. Total history taking time, computer placement, and communication skills were also recorded. During the formative session, mean history taking time was 11.4 minutes, with 3.5 minutes engaged with the computer (30.6% of visit). During the evaluative session, mean history taking time was 12.4 minutes, with 2.95 minutes engaged with the computer (24% of visit). The percentage of time individuals spent changed over the two visits: typing and talking, -3.1% (P = .3); typing only, +12.8% (P = .038); and looking at the computer, -9.6% (P = .039). This study demonstrated that time spent engaged with the computer during a patient encounter does decrease with student practice and education. Therefore, students benefit from instruction on electronic health record-specific communication skills, and use of a simple mnemonic to reinforce this is suggested.

Evaluating the effects of electronic health records system adoption on the performance of Malaysian health care providers

“…These studies found that the use of EHR had a positive effect on the physicians' tasks in an intensive care unit by allowing more time to be spent on clinical review with multiple physicians simultaneously and less time performing documentation and administrative work [31]. As indicated in a previous study, the use of EHR also enhances nursing communication skills when interacting and recording patient medical records [54].…”

Evaluating The Performance Of Malaysian Health Care Providers With Partial Least Squares Path Modeling

“…These studies found that the use of EHR had positive effect on the tasks of the physicians in an intensive care unit by allowing more time to be spent on clinical review with multiple physicians simultaneously and less time on performing documentation and administrative works [35]. As indicated in a previous study, the use of EHR also enhances nursing communication skills when interacting and recording patients' medical records [55].…”

Evaluating the Effects of Electronic Health Records System Adoption on the Performance of Malaysian Health Care Providers

“…These studies found that the use of EHR had a positive effect on the tasks of the physicians in an intensive care unit by allowing more time to be spent on clinical review with multiple physicians simultaneously and less time performing documentation and administrative work [35]. As indicated in a previous study, the use of EHR also enhances nursing communication skills when interacting and recording patient medical records [61].…”