Data Entry and Transfer Top Health IT Concerns
Although the increased use of health information technology (IT) has a number of benefits, a recently released ECRI Institute Patient Safety Organization (PSO) analysis says inaccurate entry of patient information and inadequate data transfer from one system to another have led to mistakes that could compromise safety.
After reviewing 171 events submitted by healthcare facilities over a nine-week period, ECRI Institute PSO has identified several problem areas related to health IT. In addition to inaccurate records and data transfer issues, the PSO identifies entering data in the wrong patient file; having a system that doesn’t function as intended; and configuring a system in a way that can lead to mistakes as other areas of concern.
"Minimizing the unintended consequences of HIT systems and maximizing the potential of HIT to improve patient safety should be an ongoing focus of every healthcare organization,” says Karen P. Zimmer, MD, medical director at ECRI Institute PSO, in a prepared statement.
To help cut down on errors, the authors make several recommendations, including providing training and ongoing support; involving those who use health IT in system planning, design, and selection; requiring the reporting of health IT-related events and near misses; and looking into problems encountered by users in a timely manner.
Interoperability and patient safety have been ongoing concerns for the health IT community. Last fall, AAMI and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration held a joint two-day interoperability summit.
A report of that summit, titled Medical Device Interoperability: A Safer Path Forward, is available at www.aami.org/publications/summits/2012_Interoperability_Summit_Report.pdf.
Posted: February 8, 2013