Let’s be honest—working in healthcare can be tough. Long hours, high pressure, and non-stop decision-making can take a toll on even the most dedicated doctors and nurses.
Now add in the time spent clicking through screens, documenting every detail in an Electronic Health Record (EHR) system. While EHRs are supposed to make things easier, they can also contribute to burnout—if they’re not designed well or used efficiently.
But here’s the good news: modern EHRs, when properly optimised and supported by good team practices, can actually help reduce burnout. Let’s take a look at the numbers and what they mean for hospitals in the UK.
How Much Time Are Clinicians Really Spending in the EHR?
On average, doctors spend over five hours using the EHR for every eight hours of scheduled patient care. That’s more than half the day just typing, clicking, or reading on a screen.
Burnout Is Real—and EHRs Play a Role
[A recent survey found that 26% of doctors met the criteria for burnout.
Of those, 61% said the EHR was one of the reasons.](https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC12083741/)
In some studies, up to 75% of burned-out clinicians said EHR use contributed to their stress.
Clearly, how we use these systems—and how well they’re designed—makes a big difference.
Optimising Workflow Can Make a Huge Impact
Here’s where things get interesting. When EHR systems are set up well and used by efficient teams, burnout goes down.
Clinicians in high-efficiency teams had 39% lower odds of feeling burned out.
If doctors feel their EHR time at home is appropriate, burnout risk drops by 42%.
For every eight doctors who think their at-home EHR use is manageable, one case of burnout is prevented.
Likewise, every nine doctors who feel their team is efficient helps prevent another case.
That’s a big win just from making work smoother and smarter.
What Do Clinicians Think EHRs Are Doing Well?
It’s not all bad. Many clinicians actually see value in EHRs:
52% say EHRs help their teams communicate better.
38% believe EHRs support high-quality care.
After training and workflow improvements, 75% of clinicians feel more confident using EHRs.
So, with the right support and setup, EHRs can go from being a headache to a helpful tool.
What Does This Mean for Hospitals?
Here’s the takeaway: Modern EHR systems have the potential to reduce burnout—but only if they’re well designed, integrated into efficient workflows, and supported by proper training and engagement.
That means:
Investing in EHR usability and design
Training staff properly and regularly
Encouraging team collaboration
Making sure clinicians aren’t spending unnecessary time on admin at home
Summary Table: EHRs and Clinician Burnout
Metric Value / Impact
Time in EHR (per 8 hours of patient time) 5+ hours
Burnout attributed to EHR use Up to 75%
Burnout prevalence (survey) 26%
Burnout due to EHR (of those burned out) 61%
Lower burnout with efficient team 39% less likely
Lower burnout with reasonable EHR home time 42% less likely
EHR improves team communication 52% agree
EHR enables high-quality care 38% agree
EHR confidence after optimisation 75% feel more proficient
Final Thoughts
Burnout is a serious challenge in today’s NHS. But instead of being part of the problem, EHRs can be part of the solution.
With the right tools, teamwork, and training, we can make digital systems that help clinicians spend less time on admin and more time with patients—which is what healthcare is really all about.
Let’s make tech work for the people who care for us.
Sources:
https://www.mayoclinicproceedings.org/article/S0025-6196(19)30491-2/fulltext
https://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/977979
https://www.ama-assn.org/practice-management/digital/ehr-optimization-could-ease-physician-burnout
https://catalyst.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/CAT.22.0191
https://klasresearch.com/report/physician-burnout-2022/3031
https://www.mayoclinicproceedings.org/article/S0025-6196(19)30491-2/fulltext
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