The influence of a Sprint optimization and training intervention on time spent in the electronic health record (EHR)

Abstract

Objective We report the influence of Sprint electronic health record (EHR) training and optimization on clinician time spent in the EHR. Materials and Methods We studied the Sprint process in one academic internal medicine practice with 26 providers. Program offerings included individualized training sessions, and the ability to clean up, fix, or build new EHR tools during the 2-week intervention. EHR usage log data were available for 24 clinicians, and the average clinical full-time equivalent was 0.44. We used a quasi-experimental study design with an interrupted time series specification, with 8 months of pre- and 12 months of post-intervention data to evaluate clinician time spent in the EHR. Results We discovered a greater than 6 h per day reduction in clinician time spent in the EHR at the clinic level. At the individual clinician level, we demonstrated a time savings of 20 min per clinician per day among those who attended at least 2 training sessions. Discussion We can promote EHR time savings for clinicians who engage in robust EHR training and optimization programs. To date, programs have shown a positive correlation between participation and subjective EHR satisfaction, efficiency, or time saved. The impact of EHR training and optimization on objective time savings remains elusive. By measuring time in the EHR, this study contributes to an ongoing conversation about the resources and programs needed to decrease clinician EHR time. Conclusions We have demonstrated that Sprint is associated with time savings for clinicians for up to 6 months. We suggest that an investment in EHR optimization and training can pay dividends in clinician time saved.

Using event logs to observe interactions with electronic health records: an updated scoping review shows increasing use of vendor-derived measures

“… 82 , 98 , 103 Ten observational studies were longitudinal, comparing EHR use at different points in time including before and after the start of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, 2 , 3 , 34 , 37 , 89 before and after a change to the EHR interface, 107 before and after policy changes, 101 , 109 and at different points of clinical training. 32 , 52 The 11 experimental studies examined the impact of scribes, 30 , 41 , 111 EHR training, 38 , 45 , 54 , 119 and interface changes on EHR use. 75 , 93 , 94 , 113 Only one of the experimental studies was a randomized controlled trial.…”

“…Looking at specific measures of EHR use reported in each study reveals additional differences, particularly regarding durations of EHR use ( Figure 4 ). Reported time-based measures included total time in the EHR (49 articles), 3 , 4 , 19 , 24–33 , 35–49 , 51–59 , 61 , 66 , 69–73 , 77 , 79 , 95 , 98 time in notes (32 articles), 3 , 4 , 7 , 19 , 24–32 , 35–38 , 40–46 , 48 , 51 , 55–58 , 79 , 109 time in inbox (23 articles), 2–4 , 19 , 24 , 25 , 27–29 , 35–38 , 42 , 43 , 45 , 47 , 48 , 51 , 61 , 62 , 70 , 71 time in chart review (23 articles), 3 , 4 , 24–27 , 29 , 31 , 32 , 35 , 36 , 40 , 42 , …”

Crowdsourcing Electronic Health Record Improvements at Scale across an Integrated Health Care Delivery System

“… 17 This resulted in 85 to 98% of physicians reporting improved documentation, efficiency, and approximately 5 minutes of time saved per hour. 17 Other methods of training have also been proposed, such as high-fidelity EHR simulations 18 and Sprint EHR training, 19 a training method developed by the University of Colorado that involves a 2-week, role-specific program combining visual, auditory, and kinesthetic learning approaches. The Sprint program resulted in approximately 20 minutes of clinician time saved per day.…”

“…The Sprint program resulted in approximately 20 minutes of clinician time saved per day. 19 While somewhat different from this, our health care system has implemented a retraining program “Accelerate and Control Epic” to help providers make effective and efficient use of the EHR, which is currently being extended to other clinical roles. This program includes a combination of efficiency sessions (available online) and customized one on one sessions with a clinical informatics staff based on EHR use metrics (e.g., Epic Signal data, use of common tools like note templates or ordersets) and specific requested areas of focus.…”

Interventions to Reduce Electronic Health Record-Related Burnout: A Systematic Review

“…To measure EHR proficiency, studies used EHR metrics such as total time spent in the EHR, 21,29,58,60,63 and the User Settings Achievement Level and proficiency score. 40…”