Study: Interns spend more time on computer than patients
An observational study of 29 interns found that they spent more time on computer-related tasks than examining and talking with patients, according to a study published in the Journal of General Internal Medicine.
The interns, working at Johns Hopkins Hospital and the University of Maryland Medical Center in Baltimore, spent 12 percent of their time talking with and examining patients and 40 percent of their time on computer-related tasks. The rest of their time was spent on non-computer-related indirect patient care activities, and educational and miscellaneous activities.
"I think we can do better," said lead author Leonard Feldman, MD, Johns Hopkins professor and hospitalist. The 12 percent number "seems shockingly low at face value."
According to the researchers, investing in improved EHR systems could help reduce the amount of time interns spend on computers.
Editor Beth earned a bachelor’s degree in journalism and master’s in health communication. She has worked in hospital, academic and publishing settings over the past 20 years. Beth joined TriMed in 2005, as editor of CMIO and Clinical Innovation + Technology. When not covering all things related to health IT, she spends time with her husband and three children.