Training for the Digital Clinical Environment: Preliminary Findings in Implementation of Electronic Health Record Platform in Medical Education.

Abstract

Electronic health records (EHRs) are central to modern clinical workflows, yet undergraduate medical education often provides limited hands-on experience with authentic documentation systems. This gap may reduce preparedness for clerkships and residency, limit confidence with chart navigation, and hinder development of digital literacy and clinical reasoning skills. To develop a learner-centered, open-source, web-based educational EHR platform and evaluate its usability, educational value, and curricular integration across preclinical and clinical learners. A browser-based EHR was developed to simulate real-world documentation workflows, support case-based and problem-based learning, and provide structured feedback. The platform enables instructors to create cases, assign activities, and track learner engagement. Fifty-four preclinical medical students participated in preliminary usability testing and completed post session surveys evaluating usability, learning support, and perceived realism using 5-point Likert scales. Responses were analyzed descriptively. Students reported high usability (mean 4.1 ± 0.6) and strong satisfaction with organization, navigation, and learning support. Learners emphasized workflow realism and integration of documentation with communication tasks. Early EHR exposure helped bridge classroom learning and clinical practice. Feedback informed iterative improvements to interface clarity and workflow design. This platform provides scalable, structured exposure to clinical documentation. Early findings suggest improved digital fluency, confidence, and clinical reasoning. Integration of EHR based simulation into curricula may reduce the learning curve associated with real-world EHR use.