Impact of Technology in the Healthcare Sector
One discourse currently dominating the American healthcare sector pertains to the high prevalence and incidence rates linked to medication errors. According to recent statistics released by the Joint Commission, close to 1.5 million medication error events are reported annually in the United States. Of concern is that 30% of the reported errors constitute sentinel events, translating to almost 500,000 deaths directly and indirectly attributed to medication errors (The Joint Commission, 2020). To further exacerbate the situation, healthcare facilities with significant medication rates are heavily fined by the Center for Medicare Services. Besides, such hospitals have had to part away with substantial costs in the form of compensations for families that have lost loved ones. Fortunately, health information technology solutions are steadily changing the clinical setting by offering innovative solutions to address medication errors. Notably, policymakers and experts in the medical field project that by 2030, hospitals will not be reporting medication errors or near-miss events. Do you need any help for completing your assignment ? Contact us at eminencepapers.com. We endeavor to provide you with excellent service.
One such technology solution is the computerized physician order entry system (CPOE). For years, physicians’ illegible handwriting has significantly contributed to the grappling statistics of medication errors. However, since the inception of CPOE, organizations are now able to report fewer medication errors by ensuring that physicians produce standardized, legible, and complete orders. Besides, CPOEs are also synchronized with clinical decision support system tools that allow physicians to automatically identify any drug interaction and medication allergies that can put the safety of the patient in jeopardy. The other hallmark that has accompanied the use of CPOEs is the improvement of efficiency. The interoperability of the system ensures that data is disseminated across various departments at the touch of a button, thereby significantly saving time (Rouayroux & Divol, 2019).
References
Rouayroux, N. & Divol, E. (2019). Medication prescribing errors: a pre-and post-computerized physician order entry retrospective study. International journal of clinical pharmacy, 41(1), 228-236.
The Joint Commission. (2020). Sentinel Event Alert 16: Mix-up Leads to a Medication Error | The Joint Commission. Www.jointcommission.org. https://www.jointcommission.org/resources/patient-safety-topics/sentinel-event/sentinel-event-alert-newsletters/sentinel-event-alert-issue-16-mix-up-leads-to-a-medication-error/
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Question
How has technology impacted the health care industry? Provide examples.