A study published in the Journal of General Internal Medicine determined that interns at two large academic medical facilities spent just 12% of their time in direct patient care – that is examining and interacting with patients. This is an average of just 8 minutes a day spent with each patient each day. Where do they spend the majority of their time? Mostly on indirect patient care:
- 40% of their time in front of computers doing routine “electronic” paperwork, writing orders, etc.
- 15% in educational activities.
- 9% in miscellaneous activities (wonder if that’s their smartphones).
- 7% of their time walking around the facility.
Certified Legal Nurse Consultants have long known that MDs are spending less time with patients and more time with electronics – now we know that they’re learning this behavior “on the job” as interns. No wonder failure to diagnose is one of the leading causes of medical malpractice cases. How can physicians expect to learn anything about a patient if they spend more time on their computers than with their patients?
I’m Just Askin’
P.S. Comment and share who spends more time with patients in your facility – you or the doctors.
