Improving Electronic Health Record Usability and Safety Requires Transparency

Ratwani et al express opinion on the need of transparency in improving electronic health record usability and safety. Over the last 9 years the US health care system has undergone an unprecedented transition from paper-based clinical record keeping to electronic health records (EHRs). This transition has many potential benefits for clinicians and patients, including improved efficiency, quality, and safety for many clinical processes. One of the biggest challenges has been that many clinicians report that EHRs are difficult to use, require too much time to perform certain tasks, and create frustration in performing other tasks, especially those performed infrequently. EHR usability, which is the extent to which this technology can be used efficiently, effectively, and safely by clinicians to deliver care, has emerged as one of the most pressing issues in health care.