Improving the EHR experience is emerging as a critical strategy for reducing clinician turnover, according to KLAS Research‘s Dec. 3 “Clinician Turnover 2025” report.
The report analyzes data from the Arch Collaborative, including survey responses from physicians and nurses at 40 healthcare organizations, to identify why clinicians plan to leave and which interventions are most effective at retaining them.
Here are seven key findings from the report:
- Dissatisfaction with organizational leadership is the leading reason clinicians plan to leave their employer, aside from personal circumstances such as retirement or relocation. Nurses reported feeling particularly unsupported as staffing shortages add responsibilities to existing staff.
- Leadership dissatisfaction is closely tied to a poor EHR experience. Among at-risk physicians who cited leadership misalignment as their primary reason for leaving, the average Net EHR Experience Score was 7.7 on a -100 to 100 scale — the lowest of any group measured. KLAS found that EHR frustrations often shape clinicians’ broader perceptions of administration.
- Clinicians intending to leave the healthcare industry entirely reported the worst EHR satisfaction. Their average score was -14.7, compared with 32.7 among clinicians who plan to stay at their current organization. The gap in EHR satisfaction between these groups has widened over time.
- Turnover poses a significant financial risk. The report cites studies estimating that losing a nurse costs health systems an average of $52,350, while the cost of losing a physician can reach $1 million. Persistent turnover contributes to a cycle of burnout, staffing shortages and operational strain.
- Clinicians reported feeling excluded from EHR-related decision-making. Respondents described inadequate communication, insufficient training and feeling “micromanaged” through EHR data, with some indicating that data visibility was used punitively rather than to support care.
- Organizations that prioritize EHR improvements are seeing measurable retention benefits. Among 288 clinicians who initially planned to leave in 2023 but later chose to stay, 73% cited improvements to EHR tools or workflows as a key factor. Reported enhancements included streamlined logins, expanded communication tools, macros, quick text and ambient speech technology.
- Technology changes alone aren’t sufficient. Clinicians emphasized that ongoing education and support were essential to making new EHR features effective and sustainable. KLAS found that the organizations most successful in improving clinician satisfaction paired technology upgrades with continued training and responsive support.
