Operational Friction: The Impact of Electronic Health Record Usability on Military Medical Readiness

Abstract

The mandatory transition to electronic health records (EHRs) has precipitated a profound transformation in both military and civilian healthcare infrastructures. While introducing unprecedented capabilities for data storage and retrieval, this transition has concurrently triggered severe secondary impacts, including escalating clinician burnout, workflow disruption, cognitive overload, and interoperability friction. This paper rigorously evaluates the Armed Forces Health Longitudinal Technology Application Theater (AHLTA-T) through the dual theoretical lenses of the Constructive E-Health Evaluation Method (CeHEM) and the Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology (UTAUT). By examining the perceptions and reported data from twenty-five stakeholders—providers, nurses, and medical technicians—stationed at the United States Air Force School of Aerospace Medicine (USAFSAM), this quantitative case study meticulously unpacks the critical intersections of EHR experience, working environment, systemic impact, subjective evaluation, and technical functionality. Particular analytical attention is devoted to the statistically significant differences in workload interference experienced across disparate clinician roles. The study reveals that while the AHLTA-T system is generally perceived as functional, providers and nurses report significantly higher levels of workload interference compared to medical technicians, underscoring critical disparities in EHR usability across distinct clinical roles. Ultimately, this essay explores the broader, systemic implications for EHR adoption, the necessity of continuous process improvement, and the imperative for future research specifically tailored to the unique demands of en route military patient care.