On September 16, the American Medical Association (AMA) released a new framework intended to improve the development and integration of Electronic Health Record (EHR) systems. While the AMA recognizes the potential value of EHRs, it notes that adoption and effective use has been slow due, in large part, to poor optimization for efficient and effective clinical work. This call for a new framework follows up the joint AMA and Rand Corporation study documenting physician discontent with EHRs.
The AMA framework outlines the following eight usability priorities to better achieve successful EHR use:
• Enhance physicians’ ability to provide high-quality patient care
• Support team-based care
• Promote care coordination
• Offer product modularity and configurability
• Reduce cognitive workload
• Promote data liquidity
• Facilitate digital and mobile patient engagement
• Expedite user input into product design and post-implementation feedback
The AMA intends to work with stakeholders to implement this framework, improve EHR systems and advance the delivery of affordable health care. The AMA also wants research conducted to better understand how EHR systems can meet physician needs.
