--- title: "MD wellbeing: in-basket messages from EHR algorithms. | Sutter Health" description: "Meaningful redesign of EHR in-basket workflow and a wellness-enhancing work environment are necessary to effectively improve physicians’ well-being." url: "https://www.sutterhealth.org/research/publications/md-wellbeing-in-basket-messages-from-ehr-algorithms-1055312708" --- 1. [Home](https://www.sutterhealth.org/) / 2. [Research](https://www.sutterhealth.org/research) / 3. [Research publications](https://www.sutterhealth.org/research/publications) / 4. MD wellbeing: in-basket messages from EHR algorithms. # Physicians’ well-being linked to in-basket messages generated by algorithms In EHRs. Tai-Seale M, Dillon EC, Yang Y, Nordgren R, Steinberg R, Nauenberg T, Lee TC, Meehan A, Li J, Chan AS, & Frosch D. _Health Aff. 38(7): https://doi.org/10.1377/hlthaff.2018.05509._ 2019-07-01 ## Abstract Despite concerns about physicians’ workload associated with electronic health records (EHRs), little attention has been paid to the relationship between physicians’ well-being and the in-basket messages physicians receive—specifically, their volume and sources. Analyses of EHR work performed by physicians in a multispecialty practice found that in-basket messages generated by the EHR system accounted for almost half (114) of the 243 weekly in-basket messages received per physician, on average—far exceeding the numbers received from their colleagues (53) and patients (30). In a survey, 36 percent of the physicians reported burnout symptoms, and 29 percent intended to reduce their clinical work time in the upcoming year. Receiving more than the average number of system-generated in-basket messages was associated with 40 percent higher probability of burnout and 38 percent higher probability of intending to reduce clinical work time. Physicians’ perceptions of a positive work environment were associated with lower odds of burnout and intention to reduce clinical work time and with greater satisfaction with life. Female physicians had a higher risk of burnout and lower satisfaction with life, compared to males. Meaningful redesign of EHR in-basket workflow and a wellness-enhancing work environment are necessary to effectively improve physicians’ well-being. [PubMed abstract](https://www.healthaffairs.org/doi/full/10.1377/hlthaff.2018.05509) ## Research topics - [Health Services](https://www.sutterhealth.org/research-search-results?query=%22%5C%22Health+Services%5C%22%22) - [Medical Informatics](https://www.sutterhealth.org/research-search-results?query=%22%5C%22Medical+Informatics%5C%22%22) - [Mental Health](https://www.sutterhealth.org/research-search-results?query=%22%5C%22Mental+Health%5C%22%22) - [Women's Health](https://www.sutterhealth.org/research-search-results?query=%22%5C%22Women%27s+Health%5C%22%22) ## Related publications [View all publications](https://www.sutterhealth.org/research-search-results?verticalKey=research_publication) - Publication ### [Physicians’ well-being linked to in-basket messages generated by algorithms In electronic health records.](https://www.sutterhealth.org/research/publications/md-well-being-and-in-basket-messages-from-ehr-algorithms-1055312699) Tai-Seale M, Dillon EC, Yang Y, Nordgren R, Steinberg R, Nauenberg T, Lee TC, Meehan A, Li J, Chan AS, Frosch D. Health Aff. 38(7): https://doi.org/10.1377/hlthaff.2018.05509. 2019 Jul 01 - Publication ### [Balancing digital information-sharing and patient privacy when engaging families in the intensive care unit.](https://www.sutterhealth.org/research/publications/digital-info-sharing-pt-privacy-families-icu-1055312450) Brown SM, Aboumatar HJ, Francis L, Halamka J, Rozenblum R, Rubin E, Sarnoff Lee B, Sugarman J, Turner K, Vorwaller M, Frosch DL; Privacy, Access, and Engagement Task Force of the Libretto Consortium of the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation. J Am Med Inform Assoc. pii: ocv182. doi: 10.1093/jamia/ocv182. \[Epub ahead of print\] 2016 Mar 16 - Publication ### [Serious mental illness and health-related factors associated with regional emergency department utilization.](https://www.sutterhealth.org/research/publications/serious-mental-illness-and-regional-er-use-1055312801) Azar KMJ, Petersen JP, Shen Z, Nasrallah C, Pesa J, LaMori J, Pressman A. Popul Health Manag. doi: 10.1089/pop.2019.0161. \[Epub ahead of print\] 2019 Dec 09 - Publication ### [The relationship between primary care physician burnout and patient-reported care experiences: a cross-sectional study.](https://www.sutterhealth.org/research/publications/primary-care-md-burnout-and-pt-reported-care-experiences-1055312771) Chung S, Dillon EC, Meehan AE, Nordgren R, Frosch DL. J Gen Intern Med. doi: 10.1007/s11606-020-05770-w. \[Epub ahead of print\]. 2020 Mar 23 - Publication ### [Tradeoffs of using administrative claims and medical records to identify the use of personalized medicine for patients with breast cancer.](https://www.sutterhealth.org/research/publications/identify-use-of-personalized-med-in-breast-cancer-1055312577) Liang SY, Phillips KA, Wang G, Keohane C, Armstrong J, Morris WM, Haas JS. Med Care. 49(6):e1-8. doi: 10.1097/MLR.0b013e318207e87e. 2011 Jun 01 [View all publications](https://www.sutterhealth.org/research-search-results?verticalKey=research_publication) ```json {"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"MedicalOrganization","name":"Sutter Health","@id":"https://www.sutterhealth.org/#medicalorganization","url":"https://www.sutterhealth.org","logo":"https://www.sutterhealth.org/static/images/sutter-health-logo.svg","address":{"@type":"PostalAddress","streetAddress":"2200 River Plaza Drive","addressLocality":"Sacramento","addressRegion":"CA","postalCode":"95833","addressCountry":"US"},"areaServed":{"@type":"AdministrativeArea","name":"California"},"sameAs":["https://www.facebook.com/SutterHealth","https://www.instagram.com/sutterhealth/","https://x.com/SutterHealth","https://www.youtube.com/sutterhealth","https://www.linkedin.com/company/sutter-health","https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sutter_Health"]} ``` ```json {"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https://www.sutterhealth.org/research/publications/md-wellbeing-in-basket-messages-from-ehr-algorithms-1055312708#breadcrumblist","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Home","item":"https://www.sutterhealth.org/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"Research","item":"https://www.sutterhealth.org/research"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":3,"name":"Research publications","item":"https://www.sutterhealth.org/research/publications"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":4,"name":"MD wellbeing: in-basket messages from EHR algorithms."}]} ``` ```json {"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"MedicalScholarlyArticle","@id":"https://www.sutterhealth.org/research/publications/md-wellbeing-in-basket-messages-from-ehr-algorithms-1055312708#medicalscholarlyarticle","name":"Physicians’ well-being linked to in-basket messages generated by algorithms In EHRs.","headline":"MD wellbeing: in-basket messages from EHR algorithms.","abstract":"Despite concerns about physicians’ workload associated with electronic health records (EHRs), little attention has been paid to the relationship between physicians’ well-being and the in-basket messages physicians receive—specifically, their volume and sources. Analyses of EHR work performed by physicians in a multispecialty practice found that in-basket messages generated by the EHR system accounted for almost half (114) of the 243 weekly in-basket messages received per physician, on average—far exceeding the numbers received from their colleagues (53) and patients (30). In a survey, 36 percent of the physicians reported burnout symptoms, and 29 percent intended to reduce their clinical work time in the upcoming year. Receiving more than the average number of system-generated in-basket messages was associated with 40 percent higher probability of burnout and 38 percent higher probability of intending to reduce clinical work time. Physicians’ perceptions of a positive work environment were associated with lower odds of burnout and intention to reduce clinical work time and with greater satisfaction with life. Female physicians had a higher risk of burnout and lower satisfaction with life, compared to males. 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