2010 Reports

Comparing Speed of Provider Data Entry: Electronic Versus Paper Methods

Jackson, Kevin M.; Kaiser, Gail E.; Wong, Lyndon; Rabinowitz, Daniel; Chiang, Michael F.

Electronic health record (EHR) systems have significant potential advantages over traditional paper-based systems, but they require that providers assume responsibility for data entry. One significant barrier to adoption of EHRs is the perception of slowed data-entry by providers. This study compares the speed of data-entry using computer-based templates vs. paper for a large eye clinic, using 10 subjects and 10 simulated clinical scenarios. Dataentry into the EHR was significantly slower (p<0.01) than traditional paper forms.