We evaluated electronic health record (EHR) use metrics across two academic systems
using the same EHR vendor.

The use of standardized EHR metrics allows  direct comparisons of individual and departmental EHR use and  the ability to track changes over time. We evaluated the following ambulatory EHR metrics normalized to 8 hours of scheduled patient time: total EHR time, work outside of work (WOW), time on note documentation, time on orders, time on inbox and note length in characters.

Ambulatory audit log data per encounter from the University of Illinois at Chicago (UIC) and the University of Texas Medical Branch (UTMB) was evaluated for August 2022.

Among 36 neurologists in the analysis (22 at UIC [61%], and 12 at UTMB [39%], respectively), the average EHR-Time was 2.25 (±1.29) hours. WOW time was 2.01 (±1.53) hours. Time in Notes was 0.85 (±0.72) hours. Time on Orders was 0.33 (±0.30) hours. Times on Inbox 0.23 (±0.19) hours. Note length in characters was 5,963 (±3,062). No statistical differences were noted by metric across each EHR institutions (p<0.05, t-test).

Normalized EHR metrics can be used to evaluate EHR use by neurologists across institutions. Future initiatives to improve documentation practices (reducing note bloat and comply with E/M coding changes) can be tracked across institutions with suitable metrics.