Three Ways Healthcare Technology Improves Patients Safety
Learn how healthcare technology has revolutionized the discharge planning process and improved patient safety
Keeping patients safe is one of the top objectives for healthcare professionals.
Whether it's ensuring the patient's physical safety, such as preventing a fall, medical safety, such as avoiding harmful drug combinations, or emotional safety, such as maintaining their composure and trust in their medical team, providers have the increasingly complex challenge of guiding their patients safely along their healthcare journey. The use of technology can greatly improve patient welfare and, as such, improve their outcomes. A 2017 study proclaimed “…that health information technology improves patient safety by reducing medication errors, adverse drug reactions, and compliance to practice guidelines.” With consistent deployment and such technology, providers can offer the best care possible in the right setting, at the right time.
Below this article will examine three ways healthcare technology can improve patient safety and positively impact patient outcomes.
Many patients do not only see one sole provider on their journey to wellness. From primary care physicians, specialists, nurses, and lab technicians, the transfer and communication of patient information can easily get lost. Technology can reduce this risk of miscommunication. Cloud-based medical records allow providers to update and send out information in real-time so that everyone on the patient’s healthcare team can remain in the know. The use of these electronic medical records can even reduce confusion when it comes to patient transitions, referrals, and billing. With patient safety being a top priority, communication between providers is key.
Prescribing errors can, unfortunately, be common in healthcare, and these errors can potentially have disastrous results for the patient. Electronic prescribing systems can alleviate these risks and prevent any adverse drug interactions before they occur. In addition, electronic systems can keep multiple providers and pharmacists on the same page regarding what drugs, dosages, and even allergies the patient may have. These systems can also improve patient compliance by providing clear and accurate records of their current prescriptions. With this knowledge, patients can feel confident in remembering what drugs and dosages they should be taking.
Diagnostic evidence, such as lab work or imaging, can be easy to mislabel or even lose without the help of technology. However, healthcare providers require these testing results to be accurate and timely to provide the patient with an effective treatment plan as soon as possible. Automated systems can ensure that any diagnostic evidence is instantly linked with the correct patient profile and that all providers on the patient’s healthcare team have access without delays. These advancements ensure the patient receives the most accurate diagnosis and can immediately begin treatment.
While technology can undoubtedly serve patient safety on the individual level, it can also serve the public. Utilizing data from across the population to inform on chronic health issues, demographic segments, and infection spikes can help people stay healthy. These electronic records, as we have seen with the COVID-19 pandemic, can inform the population swiftly on outbreaks and allow the healthcare community to act quickly to get better treatment or vaccines out into the community.
Rovicare
Care coordination has always been a tedious and sometimes, chaotic process for healthcare providers. Coordinating several referrals, patients’ transports, and insurance authorizations can quickly overwhelm care coordination staff and potentially lead to errors. Rovicare cuts through the clerical work and offers providers a one-stop-shop for organizing patient records and referrals between facilities. The real time communication and access to information protects the patient and providers from any mistakes and ensure a safe and trustworthy process, from beginning to end.
Sources:
https://www.observsmart.com/3-ways-technology-is-improving-patient-safety-and-quality-care/
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5787626/
