Overcoming Challenges in Electronic Health Record Use in Inflammatory Bowel Disease Care.

Electronic health record (EHR) systems were introduced to enhance patient data accessibility and improve care. However, in gastroenterology, particularly in the management of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), EHRs often place a significant burden on providers. Provider burnout is a growing issue, with EHR tasks such as extensive clinical review, in-basket messaging, and office visit charting contributing to inefficiencies in complex IBD management. These challenges highlight the need for improved EHR workflows in IBD patient care. Although research suggests that effective EHR utilization can reduce burnout, standardizing strategies across IBD centers remains challenging owing to diverse systems and regulations. Previous efforts in EHR optimization have included multicenter learning systems and smaller interventions, such as documentation tools, note templates, order sets, provider checklists, and care pathways, among others. Despite these advances, barriers to standardization persist, mainly owing to differing EHR platforms and regulatory frameworks across IBD practices. To address these challenges, practical solutions for IBD providers are needed. EHR tools such as standardized text, order preference lists, standardized note templates, patient questionnaires, and clinical information summaries offer potential for optimization. We propose the development of an EHR IBD Care Roadmap, providing standardized guidance to help clinicians optimize the use of these tools and improve the quality of IBD care. Collaboration among clinician leaders, national committees, and health information technology experts is essential for successful EHR optimization and standardization. This article explores the gaps in EHR utilization and proposes strategies for optimization in the care of IBD patients.