News: PCPs still completing administrative work during PTO, survey shows

Primary care physicians are still signing into their electronic health records (EHR) despite being on vacations and paid time off (PTO), according to a new study.

Published in JAMA Network Open, the study reflects ongoing concerns regarding physician burnout and underscores the importance of recalibrating a healthy work-life balance among healthcare professionals.

According to Medscape, the researchers found that “physicians spent a median of 16.1 minutes in the EHR per paid time off (PTO) day,” and that they also worked in EHRs “on a median 39.0% of PTO days, with EHR use exceeding 30 minutes per day on a median 19.0% of PTO days.”

The study surveyed 56 primary care physicians across the United States.

“While the actual amount of time spent in the EHR was not astoundingly high, we believe that even small amounts of EHR engagement could disrupt a physician’s ability to mentally disconnect from work,” Corey Obermiller, MStat, lead author of the study, told Medscape. “Ideally, physicians should have the confidence to step away from work for a few days.”

Editor’s note: To read the JAMA Network Open study, click here. To read the Medscape coverage, click here.