While aligning workflows isn’t a novel approach to reducing burnout, many organizations have great opportunities to optimize care team value.
Physician burnout directly impacts the quality and safety of patient care and clinician well-being while increasing costs and retention challenges. Healthcare technology leaders can provide relief and empower staff through innovative workflow solutions that prioritize users and better engage patients.
Streamlined workflows help reduce burnout
Streamlined workflows are a critical tool in combating clinician burnout, particularly when they prioritize efficiency and engaging patients as members of the care team.
For example, the University of California San Francisco (UCSF) reduced physician burnout by 45% through targeted workflow improvements, such as simplifying call management and inbox coverage. Similarly, a survey by the College of Healthcare Information Management Executives (CHIME) revealed that 60% of healthcare IT users cite inefficient workflows and lack of automation as their primary frustrations.
Optimized workflows can alleviate administrative burdens by eliminating redundancies, such as repeated patient data collection, and by integrating systems to provide a whole-person view of patient history. This reduces the time clinicians spend on documentation—currently nearly half their workday—and allows for more meaningful patient interactions. Workflows that incorporate standardized, evidence-based tools at the point of care also enhance team coordination and patient education, fostering trust and engagement while improving speed-to-answer.
By addressing inefficiencies and leveraging technology that centers evidence, healthcare organizations can create proactive systems that not only improve patient outcomes but also mitigate the stressors contributing to burnout.
Patient engagement improves provider satisfaction and outcomes
One of the most challenging facets of burnout is “moral injury”—a type of demoralization rooted in system-level problems that can be exacerbated if a clinician feels they’re not able to properly support patients due to workloads and tasks.
Patient-empowering workflows harness existing system technologies to expand care outside of the clinic and extend evidence-based information so patients can own their health journey. These workflows help patients self-serve and relieve clinicians of emotional burden. They also facilitate unified care teams and engage patients across the healthcare spectrum around a culture of patient trust and safety.
Leverage IT systems to align workflows with patient and provider needs
To coordinate workflows with patient engagement, take advantage of existing systems for improvement opportunities.
EHRs can break down information silos and streamline operations
The EHR is your highest-yield opportunity to integrate evidence-based information and trusted insights into existing workflows.
Take advantage of EHR-embedded solutions to encourage adoption and improve speed-to-answer. This choice optimizes your EHR investment and updates workflows in a way that doesn’t place additional strain on burnout-prone clinicians.
Incorporate familiar tech to recruit patients and improve engagement with providers
Since patients forget 40%-80% of medical information from providers almost immediately, leveraging technology to support patients can be a direct relief on provider workflows. The McKinsey Consumer Health Insight’s Survey found that consumers of all age groups want to see digital tools and services incorporated into their healthcare, and that 61% of consumers preferred the use of digital tools in 2022.
Connect workflows to mobile apps and other outlets of wellness content to support patients as active members of the care team and relieve providers from repeating information or addressing the effects of missed and misunderstood communications.
