Peer Coaching Helps Doctors Learn New Computer Systems

The Veterans Health Administration rolled out a new electronic health record system and found that many doctors were unsure how to use it. To ease the transition, a national program called NESSU was created. The program pairs experienced clinicians with those who were newer to the system, giving them one‑on‑one coaching. Researchers wanted to know if NESSU reached enough people, whether it felt useful, and if it actually improved how doctors used the new software. They combined surveys, interviews, and usage data from several VA sites across the country.The results showed that most participants felt the coaching was helpful and that it made them more confident with the EHR. Those who received coaching were also quicker to complete tasks and made fewer errors compared with those who did not. The study highlights that hands‑on, peer‑to‑peer support can be a powerful way to share institutional knowledge during big technology changes. It suggests that other health systems facing similar upgrades might consider a coaching model to keep clinicians on track and improve patient care.