28 ways to reduce EHR inbox fatigue

Electronic health records (EHRs) have contributed to physicians’ increased reports of burnout and reduction in autonomy. Most studies examining the effects of these systems have focused on the introduction of EHRs to physician practices as a whole, but a recent study in JAMA Open Network Health Informatics focused on an often-overlooked aspect of EHR systems: the messaging inbox.

The researchers compiled a list of 28 recommendations for healthcare organizations, EHR vendors, and researchers to reduce the growing onslaught of EHR messages for physicians.

Below are the recommendations which are organized into five categories: messaging complexities, inbox interface, cognitive load, team communication, and message content.