The Elements of Style for Interruptive Electronic Health Record Alerts

Background: The proliferation of electronic health record (EHR) alerts has led to widespread alert fatigue and clinician burnout, undermining the effectiveness of clinical decision support and compromising patient safety. Objective: We introduce a comprehensive style guide for designing interruptive alerts (IAs) in EHR systems to improve clinician engagement and reduce alert fatigue that has been approved by our institutional alert governance committees. This style guide addresses critical aspects of IAs, including format, typography, color-coding, title brevity, patient identification, and introductory text. It also outlines the use of typographic emphasis, response options, default actions, and opt-out mechanisms, emphasizing the need for clear, concise, and actionable alerts that consider clinician workflow and cognitive burden. Discussion: A standardized style guide for IAs can enhance clinician experience and clinical outcomes by reducing alert fatigue. Incorporating feedback and continuous evaluation of alert effectiveness is essential for maintaining relevance and supporting patient care within a dynamic clinical environment.

Publication History

Received: 26 July 2024

Accepted after revision: 27 December 2024

Accepted Manuscript online:
31 December 2024