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Clinicians have reported an acute increase in burnout over the last several years – but how can we confirm how much of it is caused by digital health technology? In early 2024, OntarioMD (OMD) partnered with Dalhousie University to conduct a clinician survey* in Ontario and Nova Scotia to find out. Here’s what Ontario clinicians told us.

• On a scale of 0 to 10 (0 = not at all burned out and 10 = extremely burned out), over 50% of respondents chose a burnout level of 7 or higher to rate their tech-related burnout.

• Respondents ranked their top three most burdensome tech-related administrative tasks as:

1. Managing reports sent through EMR

2. Managing communications related to patient care

3. Inputting patient data in EMR

• Technology helps respondents to complete routine tasks, work remotely, and facilitate patient care and data, but also contributes to burnout with excessive reports, poorly integrated platforms, and ease of access that interrupts life outside of clinic hours.

• Perceptions of technology and average weekly hours worked affect burnout. For example, survey results indicated that respondents who reported longer weekly work hours or had a more negative view of digital health technology tended to report higher tech-related burnout levels.

• Interestingly, characteristics such as gender, race, age, practice type, years in practice or fee structure had no effect on tech-related burnout levels.

Bottom line

So, what does all this mean? The survey showed clinicians are struggling with unmanageable inboxes, redundancies, and documentation burden. While good IT support may protect clinicians from burnout, interoperability and integration remain concerns.

OMD is working hard to support clinicians by:

• Reducing the volume of Health Report Manager (HRM™) reports to EMRs

• Looking at and supporting the adoption of innovative technologies (AI scribes, for example) to address the burdens

• Advocating for more standardized forms to reduce redundant paperwork for clinicians

• Looking into solutions for reliable, consistent IT support when clinicians need it

• Encouraging vendors to ensure their EMR products comply with interoperability needs

We will let you know when we launch new services that will address your pain points and reduce your tech-related burnout.

In the meantime, the OMD Advisory Service team can help by analyzing your office and EMR workflows and supporting you in using digital health tools to improve patient care and practice efficiency. There’s an OMD Advisor near you – best of all, their services are free!

Prefer to talk to a peer?  Get free assistance from one of our seasoned Peer Leaders. Peer Leaders are community-based clinicians, like you, who use the same EMRs and have valuable expertise and tips they are happy to share to help you integrate them in your practice.

*Of the 1,407 respondents in Ontario, 90% were family doctors or specialists.