Improving Dermatology EMR Efficiency with Epic Express Lanes

Albert Zo, a dermatology chief resident at UConn, presented a project aimed at improving EMR efficiency and reducing burnout by using Epic Express Lanes for low-complexity outpatient dermatology visits. He explained that routine encounters can require many clicks and substantial documentation time, even with existing Epic tools like smart phrases, smart sets, Dragon, or AI scribes, which help but do not fundamentally change workflow. Epic Express Lanes centralize documentation, orders, billing, and default templates into a streamlined, chief-complaint-based workflow. Implemented across a single academic dermatology center at five sites, the build was used in about 300 encounters and reduced clicks from roughly 20 to under 10, saving about six minutes per visit. This translated to meaningful weekly and yearly time savings, improved patient access, and potential revenue gains through additional visits and RVUs, all with zero upfront cost. Provider feedback was generally favorable: most respondents reported improved workflow, satisfaction, and time savings, with no negative responses for the acne or full-body skin exam templates. The team hopes to expand the use of Express Lanes to more dermatologic conditions, train more users, and share the build more broadly across departments and institutions.