How better technology can mitigate healthcare employee burnout

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How better technology can mitigate healthcare
employee burnout

• Well before the COVID-19 pandemic, burnout was a
  problem for healthcare workers. Defined by the
  World Health Organization as chronic, unmanaged
  workplace stress, its characterized by feelings
  of exhaustion, negativity, and mental distance
  from ones job. Over time, these feelings can
  make it difficult for someone to perform their
  job well.
• Healthcare workers have long suffered from
  burnout more than the general population. In
  fact, according to the Association of American
  Medical Colleges, an overwhelming 55 percent of
  frontline healthcare workers suffer from
  symptoms of burnout. For workers below the age of
  29, that number is 62 percent.
• Symptoms of burnout include
• Fatigue
• Apathy about work
• Changes to diet or sleep
• Unlike depression, burnout is usually a response
  to a specific situation often a workplace.
  Depression wont fade simply because a person has
  changed jobs. Burnout can. And healthcare
  employee burnout is especially dangerous. A
  Stanford study cited it as the leading cause of
  medical errors, responsible for up to 200,000
  deaths in the United States every year.
• Causes of burnout among healthcare workers
• Healthcare is an inherently stressful occupation.
  It combines a variety of causes of burnout into
  one job. Often, healthcare workers dont
  recognize burnout or simply chalk up the symptoms
  to normal aspects of their job, delaying care
  that could help them manage their stress.
• Healthcare workers often face
• Pain and suffering on a day-to-day basis

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When combined, these factors can quickly lead to
burnout for healthcare providers. The emotional
burden of watching patients suffer, sharing bad
news with hopeful families, working a long shift
during the day before filling in for a co-worker
at night, and running on little sleep can
compound into feelings of apathy and fatigue on
the job. Some of these factors are difficult or
impossible to eliminate. Doctors and nurses will
always work with suffering patients. Scheduling
is a function of staff size, which often shrinks
as burnout increases. Since the COVID-19 pandemic
began, healthcare workers have left the
profession in droves. But it is entirely possible
to take the burden of administrative duties off
your employees with the right EHR
automation. How can technology help? Electronic
health record (EHR) software is more than just a
place to input patient health records and
appointment times. The newest versions are like
digital employees, trained to take on thousands
of menial tasks without the need for lunches or
coffee breaks. In fact, an estimated 70 percent
of manual processes that take place in healthcare
every day can be delegated to digital
assistants. Here are some benefits of electronic
health record systems. Reduced Workload When
healthcare workers arent spending hours
attending to any of the millions of menial tasks
EHR software can take over from them, they have
more time. That can translate into reduced hours
for overworked nurses, even as staff size
shrinks. When given more time off, nurses can
seek mental health care, sleep more, take up yoga
or meditation, or investigate any number of other
activities that help reduce stress. Eventually,
that can lead to a less stressed, less burned-out
staff. More time with patients Ask any nurse or
doctor why they chose to work in healthcare.
Youll probably hear about a lifelong desire to
help patients. But these healthcare workers now
spend just 27 percent of their time with
patients. With modern cloud based EHR solutions
that can take over administrative tasks, they
can carve out more time to talk face-to-face with
patients. More hours spent on the aspects of
their job they truly love can help them recharge
and refocus on their work. And longer, more
in-depth conversations with healthcare workers
can benefit patients as well. Research has shown
just 40 additional seconds with a doctor can
result in better health outcomes. Even just a
sliver more time can be the difference between a
patient
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mentioning symptoms of other health issues and
keeping them to themselves. Improved outcome
tracking A patients relationship with a doctor
consists of millions of tiny tasks. Medication
must be prescribed, dispensed, and taken
according to a strict schedule. Appointments must
be scheduled, kept, and followed up on. Patient
progress must be tracked. When these items arent
crossed off a to-do list, a patients condition
likely wont improve. Whats worse, most of
these tasks are out of the practitioners
control. They can set the appointment and
prescribe the medication. But they cant force
the patient to show up in their office or take
the pills as directed. For a healthcare worker
who cares about improving health, patient apathy
can be incredibly frustrating. Their whole day
can seem like a list of meaningless tasks that
dont make a difference to the patients
health. EHR software cant force a patient to
swallow a pill or drive to a medical office. But
it can increase the chances that these tasks get
done. Instead of one person in the office calling
every patient to remind them of their appointment
one time, EHR software can automate the process,
so every patient receives four or five reminders.
It can track medication and alert the patient and
their pharmacy if a prescription hasnt been
picked up. It can act as an invisible, silent
support system for the physician, so they can
focus on creating a care plan instead of tracking
whether its being followed. This frees up time
and results in less stress for the practitioner
and safer conditions for the patient. In fact, in
a 2016 study, hospitals with full EHR systems had
lower rates of patient death and
readmissions. Want to learn how the right EHR
can help your staff? Contact us. About us Eye
Care Leaders, a division of Healthcare Leaders
Group, is the leading source of top-rated
ophthalmology specific EHR and Practice
Management systems. With a singular focus on eye
care practices, Eye Care Leaders tailors
solutions to meet the unique needs of each
practice. The company is based in Durham, North
Carolina and trusted by over 9,000 physicians.