Findings from a new study published in JAMA show doctors who entered data into computerized health records during patients’ appointments did less positive communicating, and patients rated their care excellent less often, writes Reuters Health. Safety-net clinics serve populations with limited proficiency in English and limited health literacy who experience communication barriers that contribute to disparities in care and health. Implementation of electronic health records in safety-net clinics may affect communication between patients and health care professionals. The researchers used data from encounters between 47 patients and 39 doctors at a public hospital between 2011 and 2013 and studied associations between clinician computer use and communication with patients with diverse chronic diseases in safety-net clinics. This study reports that high computer use by clinicians in safety-net clinics was associated with lower patient satisfaction and observable communication differences.
Read full study: Association Between Clinician Computer Use and Communication With Patients in Safety-Net Clinics, JAMA