Using Electronic Health Record Systems in Medical Education – A Needs Assessment

Abstract

The aim of this study was to determine the features needed in electronic health record systems by supervising physicians for teaching medical students and residents. We conducted in-depth semi-structured interviews with seven faculty members at a public-funded medical college. Emergent concepts were extracted in a qualitative thematic approach based on the realist paradigm. Thematic analysis revealed the need for clinical guidelines, medical calculators and research evidence. Documenting differential diagnoses for clinical reasoning and the use of medical images for pedagogical needs were requested as well. Clinical supervisors in this study suggested several features within electronic health records for teaching needs. The study findings provide a reference for developing teaching resources within electronic health records systems.