title: Electronic health records and resident workflow: a time-motion study of otolaryngology residents.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the impact of electronic health records (EHRs) on the workflow of otolaryngology residents.
  
  
  METHODS
  Prospective, time-motion study.
  
  
  METHODS
  A time-motion study was conducted both in the 2009 to 2010 and 2012 to 2013 postgraduate years. Eight otolaryngology residents were directly observed on both operative and clinic days, with resident activities categorized by way of a database program. Comparisons were made to the same data collected in the same setting prior to and following integration of an EHR system.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Residents spent their day on direct patient care (41.1%), indirect patient care (35.3%), didactic education (14.0%), personal activities (6.9%), and transit (3.1%). The primary activity during operative days was direct patient care, and during clinic days it was indirect patient care. Activities of marginal educational value comprised a considerable component of their time (16.5%). Compared to data collected prior to use of an EHR, time was spent similarly. However, residents using an EHR devoted significantly more time to indirect patient care on clinic days (P < .05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This is the first study to evaluate EHR integration on otolaryngology resident workflow. Overall resident efficiency was not significantly altered by the implementation of an EHR. However, more time was shifted from directly caring for patients to documenting on the EHR in the clinic setting. These findings provide an important objective insight into EHRs, especially given the looming mandate for their use and the need to streamline resident curriculum in the duty hours era.
authors: Bobby R. Alford Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, U.S.A.
authors: Andrew J
authors: AJ
authors: Victores
authors: Kenneth
authors: K
authors: Coggins
authors: Mas
authors: M
authors: Takashima
mesh_terms: D004502:Education, Medical, Continuing / Q000379:methods*; D057286:Electronic Health Records / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007396:Internship and Residency; D019300:Medical Errors / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D010036:Otolaryngology / Q000193:education*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D013996:Time and Motion Studies; D016526:Workload / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*
keywords: Electronic health record; efficiency; resident workflow; time-motion