Digital Health Safety Matters: A Promising Practice Study into the Adoption of Patient Safety Guidelines in Australia.

Abstract

A foundation for digitally enabling healthier living is the safe development and use of technology. The practice of digital health safety has emerged from patient harm attributed to failing technologies. The study aimed to investigate how to adopt and implement digital health safety guidelines at scale. Data was collected through an online survey, semi-structured interviews, focus groups, document review, and data mining of artefacts. The findings of this study capture the emerging practice from Australia in a way that offers insights into the problem of practice, patient safety practice, safety culture, and socio-technical factors. The research findings contribute to better understanding of the complexities of balancing digital innovation with patient safety. The four recommendations from the study and the provision of a logic model will support the audience to implement actions toward a safer digital health ecology.