Top 10 Technology Hazards for 2011

The ECRI Institute published its annual listing  of  the 10 top technology hazards.  This 2011 listing  provides a guide for prioritizing patient safety initiatives.   Each hazard includes a description of the problem, recommendations for a plan of action and helpful resources.

1. Radiation Overdose and Other Dose Errors during Radiation Therapy
2. Alarm Hazard
3. Cross-Contamination from Flexible Endoscopes
4. The High Radiation Dose of CT Scans
5. Data Loss, System Incompatibilities, and Other Health IT Complications
6. Luer Misconnections
7. Oversedation during Use of PCA Infusion Pumps
8. Needlesticks and Other Sharp Injuries
9. Surgical Fires
10. Defibrillator Failures in Emergency Resuscitation Attemps

Top 10 Technology Hazards for 2011.  Health Devices 2010 Nov: 386-398.

What is the Safety Performance for CPOE Systems?

Various studies have attempted to measure the safety performance of computerized provider order entry software.  These have produced mixed results.  The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality Patient Safety Network  has developed a Patient Safety Primer on  Computerized Provider Order Entry.    This primer describes the evidence on effectiveness.

This primer provides

Background:  a brief discussion of the key concepts in CPOE.

Evidence of Effectiveness:  a summary of the literature on the effectiveness of CPOE.

Implementation Issues:   Included a table on unintended consequences.

Table. Types of Unintended Consequences of Computerized Provider Order Entry Systems

More or new work for clinicians

Unfavorable workflow issues

Never-ending system demands

Problems related to persistence of paper orders

Unfavorable changes in communication patterns and practices

Negative feelings toward the new technology

Generation of new types of errors

Unexpected changes in an institution’s power structure, organizational culture, or professional roles

Overdependence on the technology

Current Context:  describes current status of CPOE implementation.

What’s New in Computerized Provider Order Entry:  includes descriptive listing of new studies, reviews and guidelines

Editor’s Pick for CPOE :  a select listing of important articles.

Health IT: The Road to ‘Meaningful Use’

The April 2010 issue of Health Affairs provides an in-depth coverage of health information technology particularly in light of its significant role in health care reform and the HITECH provisions of the stimulus law.

Some of the articles and interviews deal with policy issues.  However, other articles provide interesting case studies and analysis of research.  The major topics are DEFINING MEANINGFUL USE, MEDICAL HOME, THE VA EXPERIENCE, FOCUS ON QUALITY, and HOSPITALS & PRACTICES.

Selected articles include:

• “How The Electronic Health Record Did Not Measure Up To The Demands of Our Medical Home”
• “The Value From Investments in Health Information Technology At the U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs”
• “Electronic Health Records’ Limited Successes suggest More Targeted Uses”
• “The Effect Of Health Information Technology On Quality In U.S. Hospitals”
• “Mixed Results In The Safety Performance Of Computerized Physician Order Entry”
• “Lessons Premier Hospitals Learned About Implementing Electronic Health Records”
• “Easing The Adoption and Use of Electronic Health Records in Small Practices”

The complete table of contents is available for Health Affairs April 2010.  Access to the full-text of the articles is available on Mercy network computers.