Dealing with emergencies and reassuring parents after hours is at the core of pediatrics. However, spending hours at a home computer tidying up EHRs is a task devoid of meaning and reward. No wonder more than half of early-career pediatricians surveyed find it stressful. The time to revolt is long overdue. We need to stop playing the nice guy role and begin demanding that we be paid for those hours we spend at the computer. That would be a giant first step toward returning our homes to the sanctuaries of refreshment they once were and still should be.
Dr. Wilkoff practiced primary care pediatrics in Brunswick, Maine, for nearly 40 years. He has authored several books on behavioral pediatrics, including “How to Say No to Your Toddler.” Email him at pdnews@mdedge.com.
