Charting Champions: Online Coaching to Reduce Physician Administrative Burden and Improve Well-Being

<jats:title>Abstract</jats:title> <jats:sec> <jats:title>Objective</jats:title> <jats:p>To assess the efficacy of an executive peer coaching program, Charting Champions Program (CCP), in helping physicians manage their administrative workload, thereby improving time management, workflow and well-being.</jats:p> </jats:sec> <jats:sec> <jats:title>Findings</jats:title> <jats:p>In this longitudinal survey study, physicians self-reported significant improvements in completing charting and administrative paperwork during their clinical day. Physicians reported significant improvements in mental, cognitive and emotional states after the program.</jats:p> </jats:sec> <jats:sec> <jats:title>Meaning</jats:title> <jats:p>The Charting Champions Program is an effective intervention that supports physicians in problem-solving the administrative burden of their clinical day, improving workflow efficiency, completing administrative requirements during clinical hours, and enhancing work-life balance and personal satisfaction.</jats:p> </jats:sec> <jats:sec> <jats:title>Background</jats:title> <jats:p>Physicians are subject to high levels of mental, physical, and emotional stress, partly due to increasing administrative burdens. Online coaching is a proven intervention to help physicians improve workflow efficiency, reduce administrative burden and improve job satisfaction.</jats:p> </jats:sec> <jats:sec> <jats:title>Design</jats:title> <jats:p>This voluntary longitudinal survey took place between 2020 and 2023. Physicians were asked to complete a survey at program entry and again 30-90 days after program completion. The survey consisted of 14 Likert scale questions, and a final sample of 280 physicians completed both surveys.</jats:p> </jats:sec> <jats:sec> <jats:title>Intervention</jats:title> <jats:p>CCP contains modules that teach workflow improvements for clinical days, including timely charting, administrative task workflow, managing patient consultations and reducing interruptions. Interventions include self-paced modules, live coaching, recordings and an online peer community.</jats:p> </jats:sec> <jats:sec> <jats:title>Results</jats:title> <jats:p>Post-CCP physicians reported a significant decrease in hours spent charting (P&lt;0.0001) and completing clinical paperwork outside of clinical hours (P&lt;0.006). Physicians also reported a decrease in work-related dread (P&lt;0.001), feelings of burnout (P&lt;0.001), and thoughts of quitting due to administrative burdens (P&lt;0.001). Physicians felt more focused at work (P&lt;0.001), felt more in control of the clinical day (P&lt;0.001), and rated their mental energy at work higher (P&lt;0.001). The program did not affect the number of patients seen in a full clinical day (P &gt; 0.918).</jats:p> </jats:sec> <jats:sec> <jats:title>Conclusion and Relevance</jats:title> <jats:p>The CCP reduces the time physicians spend on tasks outside of clinical hours, increasing free time without decreasing the number of patients seen per day.</jats:p> </jats:sec>