Things MDs Despise The Most About Their Jobs (Including EHR Software)

Being a doctor involves resolve, endurance, and patience. The daunting MCAT, tough years of med school, and another seven in residency—that’s a lot to take on! The rewards are worth the pain, though, from grateful patients to (usually) decent paychecks and high social status. But here’s a kicker: after all that effort, many doctors still end up stuck with grueling tasks they really don’t enjoy. Let’s explore some easy solutions to help bring back their passion!

Dealing with Emails

Checking email is a total drag for many jobs, and doctors definitely feel the pain when it comes to their inboxes. Seriously, patient requests can pile up to the hundreds in just one day! During the pandemic, online communication with healthcare providers surged, with messages to doctors increasing by 157% between early 2020 and late 2021.

To address this issue, some healthcare places began charging patients for asking about new symptoms, questions about ongoing conditions, or new prescription requests via email. But honestly, it didn’t make much of a difference since most emails weren’t even billed.

Frustrated by email overload, some facilities have started charging patients for sending messages to doctors about issues that could be resolved through other channels.

Even after pandemic restrictions eased, the messages just kept pouring in, and doctors are feeling the strain of being on call all the time across all these online platforms. This nonstop pressure has caused some pretty serious slip-ups: 30% have accidentally sent the wrong attachment, 27% have hit “reply all” when they didn’t mean to, and 20% have sent sensitive info without proper protection.

To help keep doctors' emails and patient platform inboxes tidy, it’s a good idea to set up some clear communication guidelines for patients. Let them know what they can ask online, over the phone, and when they need to come in for an office visit. Also, for everyone’s safety, make sure any email chats are encrypted. Strong passwords and Two-Factor Authentication (2FA) are great ways to protect access to the inbox and reduce the chance of human errors.

Handling EHR Systems

EHR systems were supposed to automate and accelerate tedious tasks. How ironic, as most doctors think they actually decrease their productivity. While EHRs help systematize data and make it more accessible for healthcare staff and patients, they still pose lots of challenges.

Most medical workers spend up to 4.5 hours daily on EHR documentation. That makes you wonder—do they even have time to give patients the care they really need? Not as much as they’d like, but the good news is that things are starting to improve!

Most medical workers spend up to 4.5 hours daily on EHR documentation.

Companies like Abridge, Microsoft, and Suki develop AI-powered ambient clinical documentation tools. They allow doctors to record conversations with patients and turn them into notes. This technology is compatible with many EHR systems, including the most popular Epic Systems. By implementing such automation, doctors can reduce the time spent on EHR tasks by 72%.

You can also alleviate the burden of managing EHR systems by introducing remote medical receptionists. Our front-desk specialists handle all administrative tasks directly within the EHR systems, ensuring accurate data entry. With our remote team keeping EHR records organized, your medical staff can easily find the info they need. That means saving time and focusing more on what really matters—caring for your patients!

Being On Call

As a doctor, you're glued to your phone in case an emergency happens. This often means answering calls at home, outside working hours. On average, doctors are on call for 82 hours a year. Despite this, 65% of physicians report not getting compensated for after-hours duty. With those long shifts and not enough downtime, it’s no wonder burnout is becoming a real issue.

Doctors are on call for 82 hours a year. Despite this, 65% of physicians report not getting compensated for after-hours duty.

While there's no way to eliminate emergency calls, there are ways to ease their burden. Apps like OnCall help doctors organize patient information, allowing them to diagnose or plan treatment without manual notes. Doctors get basic info about their patients from the hospital’s database and can always access notes about their patients from previous on-call shifts.

Another option is to delegate everyday patient communication to outsourced providers. At Patient Connect, our remote medical receptionists manage first-touch patient requests, so your doctors can focus on emergency cases only. We take care of EHR patient booking and online patient portal support, ensuring patients get assistance before your medical staff gets involved.

Keeping Up with Medical Knowledge and Guidelines

Did you think 15 years of school and training were tough for doctors? It’s just the beginning! Every state requires MDs to renew their medical licenses periodically, with specific continuing medical education (CME) requirements to ensure they stay current.

For example, in California, doctors have to renew their licenses every two years and rack up at least 50 CME  hours. Meanwhile, Illinois has its own twist, requiring renewals every two years with a whopping 150 CME credits. And if they forget to renew on time? They might face late fees or even risk trials for practicing medicine without a license!

Many states make it a felony to practice medicine without (or with expired) license, carrying prison time of minimum one year in case of conviction.

But that’s not all. Docs also have to follow rules like the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA). Hospitals often slip up on HIPAA, whether it’s mishandling patient info, not securing data properly, or making it hard for patients to access their own health information. These mistakes can cost a pretty penny, with fines ranging from $137 to $68,928 per violation. And for doctors, it could mean losing their license altogether!

Remote medical receptionists come to the rescue again here. They’re well-versed in healthcare laws and HIPAA regulations, helping facilities stay on the right side of compliance and avoid fines. At Patient Connect, our front-desk specialists undergo federal background checks and complete HIPAA compliance certification courses to handle sensitive patient data responsibly.

Understanding MDs Frustrations

Ever notice how doctors in medical shows do it all? You rarely see ultrasound techs, physiotherapists, or pathologists lending a hand. Grey’s Anatomy is especially guilty of this and gets called out for being particularly unrealistic. 

But while doctors don’t juggle all these roles in real life, they still have a lot on their plates. They’re everyday heroes, but they’re human, too. They face burnout, get buried in paperwork they hate, and often feel underappreciated and underpaid.

The good news? We can help lighten their load! By recognizing and addressing these frustrations, we can make the healthcare system more efficient and give our medical heroes a better work-life balance. 🩺 Start here.