FRESNO, Calif. (KMJ) — Electronic medical records were intended to simply the tasks of doctors.
However, new research — largely funded by the American Medical Association — shows that physicians spend nearly half of their time performing administrative tasks, as opposed to having face-to-face time with patients.
Electronic records require doctors to take adequate notes, so that patients are properly billed; but, that can be time-consuming, and take away from the time doctors have to listen and answer questions.
The study’s authors are recommending that documents be simplified, and that the government reexamine applicable regulations.
