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AMA adopts policy to incorporate EHR training in medical schools

In an effort to transform medical education, AMA adopted a policy at its annual meeting for medical schools and residency programs to provide future physicians with sufficient training in electronic health record systems.

“Unfortunately, despite a growing awareness within the medical education community that medical students and residents need to learn how to ensure quality clinical documentation within an electronic health record, some institutions continue to restrict access to the EHR due to a variety of concerns,” Karthik V. Sarma, MS, AMA board member and medical student, said in a press release. “There is a clear need for medical students to have access to — and learn how to properly use — EHRs well before they enter practice.”

Concerns about the effects of the EHR include hindered student and resident relationships with patients and poor modeling from the care team on appropriate use of and best practices for EHRs, according to AMA.

Therefore, the policy urges medical schools and residency programs to ensure that evaluative feedback on the value and effectiveness of the guidance be included in clinical documentation and EHR training and to provide professional development resources for faculty on appropriate modeling of EHR use during interactions with patients, according to AMA. – by Alaina Tedesco

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