ONC, CMS Address EHR-Related Clinician Burnout

The Office of the National Coordinator (ONC) and the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) held a joint listening session last month during which the provider community discussed clinician burnout potentially caused by administrative burdens associated with using electronic health record (EHR) systems. The event resulted from 21st Century Cures Act recommendations directing the Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services to consult with the health care community about establishing a goal to reduce burdens associated with EHR use. During the listening session, attendees discussed EHR use, workflow, interoperability, and related areas. ONC and CMS will use the discussions to address the general goal of reducing the burdens of EHR use. Several workgroups were developed to closely examine such areas as reporting, regulations, and EHR design. GNYHA will monitor this effort as part of our continued support of members working to reduce physician burnout. These issues will be discussed in more detail at a program planned for April 11.