title: Communication and the electronic health record training: a comparison of three healthcare systems.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The electronic health record (EHR) used in the examination room, is becoming the primary method of medical data storage in primary care practice in the USA. One of the challenges in using EHRs is maintaining effective patient-provider communication. Many studies  have focused on communication in the examination room.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  Scant research exists on the best methods in educating nurse practitioners and other primary care providers (clinicians). The purpose of this study was to explore various health record training programmes for clinicians.
  
  
  METHODS
  One researcher participated in and observed three health systems' EHR training programmes for ambulatory care providers in the Pacific Northwest. A focused ethnographic approach was used, emphasising patient-provider communication.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Only one system  had formalised communication training in their class, the other two systems emphasised only the software and data aspects of the EHR.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The fact that clinicians are expected to use EHRs in the examination room necessitates the inclusion of communication training in EHR  training programmes and/or as a part of primary care nurse practitioner education programmes.
authors: Independent Nurse Practitioner Practice, Health Connections, Lacey, WA, USA.
authors: Michelle H
authors: MH
authors: Lynott
authors: Sarah A
authors: SA
authors: Kooienga
authors: Valerie T
authors: VT
authors: Stewart
mesh_terms: D001292:Attitude to Computers; D003142:Communication; D057286:Electronic Health Records; D006302:Health Services Research; D006801:Humans; D007318:Inservice Training / Q000458:organization & administration*; D011320:Primary Health Care / Q000458:organization & administration*; D011369:Professional-Patient Relations; D036301:Qualitative Research; D014481:United States