Health Information Technology and Patient Safety, Essay Example

Healthcare technology can have important implications for patient safety because it is a helpful component of quality improvement. Technology in the healthcare setting allows practitioners to quickly access and record information that is conducive to the treatment of their patients. The most important healthcare improvement that has been made lately is the establishment of electronic health record systems that replace the conventional paper record system. This technology allows patient information to be more accessible, which helps reduce patient risk due to the increased knowledge that the practitioner has regarding the patient’s health history as a consequence.

An additional advantage of healthcare technology in the hospital and private care setting is that it allows for efficiency related to prescription refills. Many electronic health record systems are equipped in a manner that allows the healthcare professional to send prescriptions to the pharmacy the moment that it is prescribed. Since patients are able to access their medications more quickly, their treatment is becoming more accessible. Likewise, electronic health records help hospital staff understand the various needs of their patients, such as risk for falls and knowledge of current medications. The former ensures that health care setting has provided the appropriate amenities to at-risk patients, while the later allows prescribers to double check to ensure that there will be no intended drug interactions.

While healthcare technology has been demonstrated to improve patient safety, it also makes the administrative aspects of running the hospital more smooth. In particular, electronic health record systems allow for billing functions. This allows the healthcare staff to quickly determine which procedures require authorization so that it could be approved immediately. Furthermore, the system keeps track of patient expenses in a manner that allows the administration and the patient to be constantly aware of the financial aspect of their care.

References

Parente ST, McCullough JS. (2009). Health Information Technology And Patient Safety: Evidence From Panel Data. Health Affairs, 28(2): 357-360.