Author:
Kathleen Detar Gennuso
Affiliation:
Duquesne University, United States
Keyword(s):
Patient safety, Human factors, Analytical methods, Ethical issues.
Related
Ontology
Subjects/Areas/Topics:
Biomedical Engineering
;
Clinical Problems and Applications
;
Design and Development Methodologies for Healthcare IT
;
Evaluation and Use of Healthcare IT
;
Health Information Systems
;
Healthcare Management Systems
Abstract:
Using information technology (IT) to reduce adverse events in healthcare has been a growing trend since its endorsement in the 1999 Institute of Medicine (IOM) report. The implementation of comprehensive information systems in healthcare practices has proved to be a path riddled with pitfalls. Not unlike other industries, initially there are more failure stories than successes. Unfortunately the more comprehensive the technology, or the wider the span of the implementation, the more difficult it is to achieve success. This paper looks at the need for information technology (IT) in patient safety initiatives. Based on this foundation, it examines critical concepts in the process of implementation of systems supporting patient safety initiatives. Last, the paper identifies a sampling of ethical issues that commonly arise when IT is utilized in patient safety initiatives. Even though a transformational application of IT in this type of endeavor is difficult, it does not undermine the si
gnificant benefits that automation can provide and is required to provide by society and the law.
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