title: Influence of electronic medical record implementation on provider retirement at a major academic medical centre.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The push for electronic medical record (EMR) implementation is grounded on increasing efficiency and cost savings. Our objective was to investigate the effect of EMR implementation on provider attrition.
  
  
  METHODS
  We completed a retrospective study investigating whether medical provider attrition, clinical MD or equivalent, coincided with EMR implementation. We analysed monthly provider attrition rates and mean age at attrition 24 months preceding the EMR 'go-live' date at our institution and 12 months after.
  
  
  RESULTS
  208 provider departures occurred between July 2011 and June 2014. The attrition categories were classified as 'departure' (n = 137, 65.9%), 'emeritus' (n = 30; 14.4%), 'no specified reason' (n = 26; 12.5%) and 'not reappointed' (n = 15; 7.2). The most common degree held by departing providers was 'MD' (n = 170; 81.7%). Most departures occurred in June 2013 (n = 24). The mean provider age at departure was 46.4 years ± 2.9 years for June 2012, 48.1 years ± 2.5 years for June 2013 and 45.0 years ± 4.1 years for June 2014. Our data indicate a trend for both an increase in number of departing providers, as well as an increased mean age in the month immediately prior to EMR implementation.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  To date, no other investigation of the effect of EMR implementation of provider retirements have been published. We demonstrate a peak in provider attrition in the month prior to EMR implementation that may not be explained by normal attrition patterns with an academic calendar.
  
  
  METHODS
  Level 5 - qualitative or descriptive study.
authors.affiliation: Division of Otolaryngology - Head & Neck Surgery, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC, USA.
authors.forename: Matthew G
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0001-9950-0985
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Crowson
authors.affiliation: Department of General Surgery, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC, USA.
authors.forename: Christopher
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Vail
authors.affiliation: Division of Otolaryngology - Head & Neck Surgery, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC, USA.
authors.forename: Rose J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Eapen
mesh_terms: D000046:Academic Medical Centers / Q000458:organization & administration*; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D057286:Electronic Health Records / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D010820:Physicians / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012179:Retirement / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014481:United States
keywords: attrition; electronic medical record; human resources; retirement