Understanding HIT nationally and on the local front lines

In the past couple of months, there have been numerous publications around health information technology (HIT) and patient safety. In November 2011, the Institute of Medicine (IOM) released its report, Health IT and Patient Safety: Building Safer Systems for Better Care. Right on its heels, the ECRI Institute released its top 10 list of technologies1 posing hazards to healthcare delivery. The list exposed dangerous medical devices and other technology systems. It was inclusive of everything from surgical fires to radiation therapy exposure risks. Through these reports and a variety of other publications in recent months, one of the primary take-home messages is clear: It is exceedingly difficult to prioritize where attention should be focused given the breadth and scope of HIT and its potential effects on patient safety and care delivery.

This is an excerpt from members-only content. Please log in or become a member to access the full content.