iom report health it and patient safety building safer systems for better care

In 2012, in Health IT and Patient Safety: Building Safer Systems for Better Care the IOM found the evidence on the impact of health IT on patient safety was “mixed.” Since then, whether health IT actually improves patient safety has remained an open question.

Full Answer

What is the purpose of the health it and patient safety report?

Specifically, it focuses on reducing the risks of health IT-assisted care, and it identifies areas of concern to help put the nation in a better position to fully benefit from health IT. Institute of Medicine. (2011). Health IT and Patient Safety: Building Safer Systems for Better Care.

Is there a framework for patient safety and Health Information Technology?

This book provides recommendations for developing a framework for patient safety and health IT (information technology). Specifically, it focuses on reducing the risks of health IT-assisted care, and it identifies areas of concern to help put the nation in a better position to fully benefit from health IT. Institute of Medicine. (2011).

How can information technology improve the safety and effectiveness of care?

This call to action has led to a number of efforts to reduce errors and provide safe and effective health care. Information technology (IT) has been identified as a way to enhance the safety and effectiveness of care.

Are patient safety problems limited to inpatient hospitals?

These patient safety problems are not just limited to inpatient care. To Err Is Human recognized that more patients could be harmed by errors in ambulatory settings because more medical care is delivered outside of hospitals than inside.

What is health IT?

Health IT, when well designed and implemented, is a tool that can help health information flow in ways that allow for improvements in patient health and safety. Whatever the drawbacks to health IT systems, the evidence suggests that health IT has raised the floor on safety.

Does health IT improve patient safety?

Since then, whether health IT actually improves patient safety has remained an open question. The nation has seen widespread adoption of health IT as a result of the Medicare and Medicaid EHR Incentive Programs. With that increase in adoption, there should be more and better evidence on the actual impact of health IT on safety.

Why is health information technology important?

Health information technology has been touted as crucial to better health care, but a new report says an entirely new regulatory agency is needed to oversee this largely unregulated sector, which can also injure or kill patients if it’s not operating properly.

Why is health IT data lacking?

Several reasons health IT–related safety data are lacking include the absence of measures and a central repository (or linkages among decentralized repositories) to collect, analyze, and act on information related to safety of this technology.

How to get a copy of the National Academies report?

Reporters can obtain a copy of the report by contacting the National Academies' Office of News and Public Information; tel. 202-334-2138 or e-mail news@nas.edu.

Does the FDA have investigative capabilities?

The report also notes the agency does not have the investigative capabilities, funding or manpower to regulate devices such as electronic health records, personal health records or health information exchanges. Then give them the resources, not develop an entire new agency. The FDA has the talent and experience.

Does FDA restrict innovation in health IT?

In its report, the IOM committee says the FDA would likely restrict market innovation in health IT, which could also jeopardize patient safety. There has been little to no real "innovation" in health IT in well over a decade; if anything, the usability and quality has deteriorated.

Is the FDA a class 3 medical device?

Cook writes that health IT is considered a “Class III medical device,” that is to say, a device that performs integral medical functions, which the FDA already has the jurisdiction to regulate.