Trends
Nurse and physician enablement: Empowering clinicians through health technology
Jul 16, 2024
The healthcare sector in the United States faces a crisis with a dual challenge: a growing provider shortage and increasing clinician burnout. Physicians and nurses who form the backbone of our healthcare system are often under immense stress, struggling with high patient loads, administrative burdens, and insufficient support. While technology holds the promise of alleviating some of these pressures, it can also exacerbate the cognitive load and stress experienced by healthcare providers if not designed appropriately. This begs the question: how can we leverage technology designed with providers in mind to empower our medical professionals?
This article explores how effective physician enablement through well-designed technology can enhance clinician engagement, improve the physician experience, and ultimately lead to better patient care and outcomes. We will dive into four key principles for designing technology for clinicians. Armed with best practices, digital health organizations and virtual care companies can be assured their products are used efficiently and effectively by patients and clinicians alike.
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The current landscape: Doctors in distress
The medical profession is often romanticized, viewed as a noble calling that offers intellectual challenge and the profound satisfaction of helping others. However, the reality for many physicians and nurses is far from idyllic. While the work itself may be intrinsically rewarding, clinicians may face a multitude of stressors that erode their well-being and negatively impact patient care.
A 2022 study by the American Medical Association (AMA) found that half of all physicians experience burnout. This alarming statistic translates to a workforce on the brink, with potentially dire consequences for patient care and overall system efficiency. Factors contributing to this distress include:
- Administrative burden: Mountains of paperwork and cumbersome EHR systems eat away at valuable time that could be spent with patients
- Fragmented patient data: Inconsistent information across different healthcare providers makes it difficult to get a complete picture of a patient’s health
- Lack of decision support: Making critical decisions under time pressure can be overwhelming, especially for early-career physicians
Technology: Reducing (not adding) to the cognitive burden
The answer to these woes lies not in replacing clinicians with tech, but in using technology to strategically empower them and reduce workloads to create more space for direct patient care. Imagine a world where technology frees up physicians’ time for patient interaction, provides a holistic view of patient health, and offers real-time guidance at the point of care. This is the future of physician enablement.
Technology can revolutionize the clinician experience by streamlining workflows and offering valuable tools to address the issues we listed above. Clinicians spend a significant amount of time on administrative tasks—up to one-sixth of their working hours according to one study. AI-powered tools can automatically populate EHR fields from diction, imaging reports, and other sources, drastically reducing manual data entry. Smart scheduling systems can integrate with patient portals to allow for self-scheduling and automated appointment confirmations, freeing up staff for more critical tasks.
Fragmented patient data makes it difficult for clinicians to comprehensively view a patient’s health history. Data aggregation platforms can securely collect and organize patient data from various sources, including EHRs, wearables, and patient portals or other self-reporting applications, providing a unified view. Telehealth consultations allow for remote patient monitoring and chronic disease management, offering valuable data points for a more comprehensive picture.
Additionally, clinical decision support systems (CDSS) offer real-time evident-based guidance at the point of care, suggesting appropriate medications, diagnoses, and treatment plans. AI-powered risk stratification algorithms can analyze patient data and identify individuals at a high risk for specific conditions, allowing for preventative interventions. While the physician is ultimately responsible for decisions made, this technological assistance can help provide much needed peace of mind.
Beyond these categories, technology can also facilitate communication between clinicians and patients through secure messaging platforms, improving care coordination and patient engagement. Streamlined workflows can optimize order entry, medication management, and lab results review, freeing up valuable time for patient engagement.
Four principles for designing technology for clinicians
Just like patient-centric products, good design is paramount for clinician-facing technology. Here are some core principles for supporting physicians:
1. Know your users
Clinicians have significant workflows and needs. User research helps understand their pain points, current routines, and preferences, ensuring technology addresses them effectively.
Methods such as in-depth interviews and focus groups can reveal crucial insights into the working reality of these team members. In some cases, ethnographic field studies can even be used to actually watch how teams work “on the ground” to ensure that all new technology solutions fit within these workflows in an effective way. For example, a physician might prioritize quick access to patient data at the point of care, while a nurse might value tools that streamline medication administration and communication with colleagues. Similarly, technology systems that allow providers to order specialty labs or tests may need to integrate with EHR systems typically accessed on desktop workstations, where as continuing education content may be more commonly consumed on a mobile device on-the-go.
A common mistake in healthcare technology is assuming that a new product or system is so important that all users will be excited to learn and construct an entirely new workflow around that solution. On the contrary, providers who are already stretched thin face an increasing burden when a new technology system is rolled out that does not seamlessly fit into their existing routines. If technology is not designed specifically for providers, it will almost certainly not be embraced by providers.
2. Prioritize usability
As we have made clear, physician burnout is a very real concern. Technology should be designed to alleviate stress, not add to it. Clinicians shouldn’t need extensive training manuals to understand how to use the tools that are supposed to be making their lives easier. Reduce repetitive tasks and minimize data entry where possible through features like voice recognition, integration with EHR systems that allows for automatic population, etc. Ensure that information flows are presented in a way that matches clinical decision making processes. Prioritize clear and concise information presentation, avoiding excessive jargon and complex layouts.
Health technology developers should avoid overwhelming users with complex functionalities. Consider the context in which clinicians will be using technology. Are they primarily accessing information at a desktop workstation, or do they need mobile-friendly solutions for on-the-go consultations? Physicians often juggle multiple tasks within short timeframes. Clearly outline what the technology can and cannot do, and ensure the user interface is intuitive and easy to navigate. Designing for bite-sized interactions, with the ability to quickly resume tasks later, can significantly improve usability.
3. Demonstrate value
Clinicians are busy professionals. They need to see how new technology translates into tangible benefits. Focus on metrics that matter to them, such as time saved on administrative tasks, improved accuracy of diagnoses, or enhanced patient engagement. Quantify the impact of technology through real-world data and case studies.
Physicians need access to accurate and up-to-date medical information at the point of care. Break down complex information into smaller, digestible chunks that can be readily consumed during brief breaks between appointments. Offer options for deeper dives into specific topics for those that want to explore further.
4. Test early and often
User testing is an essential part of the design process. Gather feedback from clinicians throughout the development cycle, from initial prototypes to the final product launch. Observe how clinicians interact with the technology in real-world settings. This iterative approach allows for continuous improvement and ensures the solution truly meets the needs of the users.
Conclusion
These four key principles are at the core of HTD Health’s work. If you are looking for support designing new or optimizing existing healthcare technology to improve the clinician experience, HTD consults and works with clients to design digital health UX/UI and implement physician-centric solutions. By embracing these principles, organizations can design healthcare technology that empowers clinicians, reduces burnout, and ultimately paves the way for more efficient, effective, and empathetic healthcare systems.
HTD has designed and built provider-facing technology solutions for countless clients including Boston Children’s Hospital, Dock Health, Medpower, Healthstream, and many more. For a real-world example, check out HTD’s case study outlining work with Salute Safety, an Environmental Health and Safety platform designed for hospitals, medical, laboratories, and research facilities. Reach out directly to meet with a member of the HTD team to discuss a project or to learn more about our approach!
