EHRs Could Divert Too Much Doctor Attention

Nonverbal cues may get overlooked and affect doctors’ ability to pay attention and communicate with patients when physicians spend too much time looking at the computer screen in the exam according to a Northwestern Medicine study. 
Among the most important factors are physicians’ communication skills and their individual style of interacting with patients. In addition, the culture of the health care organization can affect implementation and use of EHRs in patient-physician interactions.

Removing spatial barriers, such as installing mobile monitors or configuring examination rooms to enable physicians to maintain eye contact while using the computer and allow patients to view the computer screen easily can help promote "inclusive" use of computers in clinical encounters, the report concluded.  Read More