Annals of family medicine
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Annals of family medicine · Jan 2024
More Tethered to the EHR: EHR Workload Trends Among Academic Primary Care Physicians, 2019-2023.
The purpose of this study is to evaluate recent trends in primary care physician (PCP) electronic health record (EHR) workload. ⋯ Primary care physicians' time in the EHR continues to grow. While PCPs' inbox time may be stabilizing, it is still substantially higher than pre-pandemic levels. It is imperative health systems develop strategies to change the EHR workload trajectory to minimize PCPs' occupational stress and mitigate unnecessary reductions in effective physician workforce resulting from the increased EHR burden.
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Annals of family medicine · Jan 2024
Telemedicine Could Reduce the Role of Family Physicians to Case Managers.
The COVID-19 pandemic led to the widespread and continuing use of telemedicine in primary care. Despite telemedicine's benefits, it threatens to reduce the role of family physician to that of gatekeeper and case manager, nullifying decades of experience and medical intuition that is more difficult to develop and apply virtually. ⋯ The challenges presented by telemedicine require us to re-examine our professional and personal values such as maintaining the centrality of the therapeutic relationship with patients. The greatest concern, however, relates to the future of the profession and the ability of new family doctors to overcome the challenges of telemedicine in an increasingly digital world.