Patient Safety and Health Information Technology

Abstract

AbstractHealth information technology (IT) has played an increasing role in patient safety. In this chapter, we first introduced the organizational structure of patient safety and health IT safety improvement at the Johns Hopkins Health System. And then we described a case study: the CancelRx implementation, as an example of the application of the Johns Hopkins health IT safety structure and interdisciplinary health IT safety improvement initiatives. CancelRx is an electronic tool that allows prescribers to send electronic cancellation messages when medications are discontinued or changed. The case study included a proactive risk assessment, the pilot implementation and measures, and the expansion across the health system with a human factors analysis. We demonstrated and emphasized the value of continuous evaluation by an interdisciplinary team to ensure the safe health IT implementations.KeywordsPatient safetyPrescriptionsHealth information technologyMedication reconciliationHuman factorsCancelRx