Healthcare Can’t Let the Shortcomings of Existing Tech Systems Hurt Patients

As a hospitalist, I see the workforce challenges that fuel burnout every day. Over the past year, emergency department visits and the inpatient census at the hospital where I work have reached all-time highs. Some staff have chosen to leave the field entirely, others have left full-time roles for higher-paying traveling contracts. Meanwhile, Covid infections among the clinical teams are reducing the number of staff members available on any given day.

Beyond these situational stressors, however, is one constant source of burnout: studies confirm that physicians across specialties spend more time on documentation and...