Abstract
Despite having unparalleled technology and resources, the U.S. healthcare system has room for improvement. Impressive advancements in medical knowledge have accelerated at a mind-boggling rate, but access to patient information and knowledge resources is limited and not readily available to the majority of providers. Innovative surgical procedures using advanced diagnostic equipment offer a sophisticated understanding of a patient’s condition; however, information distribution and communication are hampered by the manual, paper-based charts present in most healthcare organizations. Handwritten medication orders are error prone, and deciphering handwriting is frequently a challenge for those processing orders. Medications with similar names but different action classes, effects, and dose ranges further complicate the medication management process. Front-line employees make high-risk decisions that require judgment and choices involving many variables with minimal system support [1].
More than ever before, the healthcare industry is embracing information technology as a viable solution for promoting a culture of safety.
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Sensmeier, J., Kimmel, K.C. (2004). Information Technology and the New Culture of Patient Safety. In: Ball, M.J., Weaver, C.A., Kiel, J.M. (eds) Healthcare Information Management Systems. Health Informatics Series. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4757-4041-7_31
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