Silent Epidemic Sweeping Through Healthcare

Let’s be real for a moment—healthcare is facing a crisis. Burnout. It’s the word that’s been echoing through healthcare for years, but in 2024, it’s louder than ever. Clinician turnover is reaching epidemic proportions.

Did you know? More than half of physicians report burnout, nearly doubling their likelihood of leaving their roles, while one-third of nurses cite burnout as a key reason for job departures—even before the pandemic. (Source: National Library of Medicine)

But there’s a glimmer of hope amid these challenges: enhancing EHR training could make a world of difference.

The Reality of Clinician Turnover

Burnout isn’t just a buzzword—it’s a deeply personal and professional crisis. Overburdened schedules, endless charting tasks, and clunky EHR systems are major contributors. These challenges aren’t just impacting job satisfaction—they’re also costing organizations dearly. With turnover costs for nurses averaging $56,300 and up to $1,000,000 for physicians (based on KLAS Arch Collaborative Survey - Clinician Turnover 2024: Stemming the Rising Tide published on 12/03/2024), it’s clear that improving the work environment is no longer optional.

Take Dr. Sarah, for example. She’s a primary care physician with over 15 years of experience. Every day, she juggles patient appointments, paperwork, and a seemingly endless stream of charting. Her EHR system, designed to streamline her workflow, instead feels more like a maze—forcing her to click through endless screens just to complete basic tasks. The result? She’s often left feeling drained and frustrated, knowing that each extra click takes time away from her patients. Dr. Sarah’s story isn’t unique—many clinicians face similar struggles, and it’s costing the healthcare system more than we realize.

What if we could chip away at this problem by focusing on something actionable? Enter: better EHR training.

The EHR Dilemma

Clinicians often describe their EHR experience as a barrier rather than a tool. Take these sentiments from healthcare professionals:

• “Charting takes so long that I barely have time for breaks.”
• “There’s no standardized training—everyone fumbles through it on their own.”
• “I know training is available, but finding time to attend feels impossible.”

These frustrations are not just complaints; they’re signs of a system in need of an overhaul. Without proper EHR education, clinicians feel unsupported and inefficient. However, when organizations prioritize training, it’s like flipping a switch.

A Light at the End of the Tunnel

Some organizations are already making strides. One particular organization even shared daily EHR tips to simplify workflows. With no additional budget, they achieved impressive results:

• An 18-point improvement in Net EHR Experience Scores. Clinicians felt they had a voice in system changes, ranking in the 94th percentile.
• The success of such initiatives highlights an undeniable truth: effective EHR training can reduce burnout and help clinicians feel heard.

Why It Matters

Training isn’t just about teaching buttons and workflows—it’s about empowering clinicians to reclaim their time and energy. Personalizing the EHR experience, listening to clinician feedback, and showing how technology can support rather than hinder them is key.

The truth is, improving EHR training isn’t just a nice-to-have. It’s a must-do. So, how can we take action? Start with small, everyday changes—introduce quick, bite-sized training tips for your team. Ask your clinicians what they need and act on it. Personalize the learning experience to fit their workflows. And make sure your training is accessible—no more waiting for the next big seminar. Let’s make it happen now.

But don’t just take our word for it. In the next part of this series, we’ll dive into a case study of an organization that tackled its burnout crisis head-on by reimagining EHR training. You won’t want to miss the lessons learned!