Emergency Medicine Residents on Electronic Medical Records: Perspectives and Advice

Given the near-universal implementation of electronic medical records (EMRs) in emergency departments (EDs), emergency medicine (EM) residents spend significant time interfacing with EMRs without any established national curriculum to learn best practices. While EMRs have the potential to increase physician efficiency and improve the quality of documentation, they have also been cited as a factor in physician burnout. Understanding the target audience of the EMR, knowing what and when to chart, and practicing time-saving strategies can streamline the process of charting. We review the literature on the current state of EMR documentation by residents and provide recommendations for best practices.