How do you ensure your weekends, evenings, and vacations are down time, not catch-up-on-EHR time?

Michael Crocetti, MD, Johns Hopkins Community Physicians

When you’re on vacation, set up an away message that makes it clear that you’re away to recharge and that there is a great team of people available to help.

Weekends and evenings are even tough. I try to put my cell phone on silent and store it far enough away from where I am relaxing so that I can’t pick it up or look at it.

Scott Wright, MD, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine

Perhaps I should not be answering this question because I do bring work home with me not infrequently.

BUT, I am conscious about how long I spend on this catch-up work and when I am doing it. I try my best to not allow it to interfere with my self-care, time with family and friends, and partaking in my passions.

Rachel Salas, MD, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine

I have a rule about not doing work at home!

Colleen Christmas, MD, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine

EHR work is like a gas – it will expand to fill all the time you give it! This means that even when my brain is tired at the end of a day I have to discipline myself to finish documenting before I go home if at all possible.

When not possible, for example, I need to go pick up one of my kids or the day’s work already ran too long, I forgive myself and find time to squeeze it in during the work day on another day.

Mostly that means setting clear boundaries in my own mind about what is work, and that work must be done at work. I’m imperfect about this, but much better than I used to be.

Sam Kant, MD, University of Maryland Medical Center

I make sure notes and the inbox in the EHR are cleared before leaving work, even if it means staying a bit longer.

Mike Fingerhood, MD, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine

I don’t do well with evenings and weekends, although I do make sure one of my weekend days is fully down time.

On vacation I totally disconnect, even disabling work email on  my phone. Totally separating makes me much more productive when I return to work.

Margaret Chisolm, MD, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine

I find internet-free vacation destinations (yes, they still exist)!

If a staycation, I try to make sure I have plenty of relaxing alternative activities: crossword and jigsaw puzzles, baking projects, long walks, fun books to read and movies to watch, and get-togethers.

Shannon Scott-Vergnalia, MD, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine

1.) No work email on phone.

2.) Real out of office.

3.) Virtual scribe to help with notes.

I still do a lot of email and notes done sitting watching movies with my family, so I have room to improve!