Journal-based CME Course: How to Teach Good EHR Documentation and Deflate Bloated Chart Notes

Activity ID

14700

Expires

November 1, 2028

Format Type

Journal-based

CME Credit

Fee

$30

CME Provider: AMA Journal of Ethics

Description of CME Course

Since health care organizations implemented widespread adoption of electronic health records (EHRs), clinicians’ notes about patients’ care have become longer and more cumbersome, a phenomenon colloquially known as “note bloat.” Bulky templates and blocks of data take time to sort through, making it difficult for clinicians to discern what is clinically and ethically relevant in prior clinicians’ notes about their encounters with a patient. This article considers important consequences of long, dense notes for clinicians, including less time to spend face-to-face with patients. Bloated notes have other consequences for teaching and for clinician well-being, so this article proposes a less-is-more approach to electronic documentation that focuses on making important information about a patient easier to find, illuminating clinical reasoning, and promoting efficiency, concision, and clarity in EHR documentation practices.

Disclaimers

1. This activity is accredited by the American Medical Association.
2. This activity is free to AMA members.

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More Information

Commercial Support?

NOTE: If a Member Board has not deemed this activity for MOC approval as an accredited CME activity, this activity may count toward an ABMS Member Board’s general CME requirement. Please refer directly to your Member Board’s MOC Part II Lifelong Learning and Self-Assessment Program Requirements.

General Information on CME Activity

Educational Objectives

1. Explain a new or unfamiliar viewpoint on a topic of ethical or professional conduct
2. Evaluate the usefulness of this information for health care practice, teaching, or conduct
3. Decide whether and when to apply the new information to health care practice, teaching, or conduct

Keywords

Electronic Health Records, Ethics, Professional Well-being, Clinical Decision Support, Digital Health

Competencies

Medical Knowledge, Professionalism

CME Credit Type

AMA PRA Category 1 Credit

DOI

10.1001/amajethics.2025.808