Question

Describe a current technology that you use in patient care that supports clinical decision-making and/or promotes patient safety.

Answer 1

THERE ARE MANY CURRENT TECHNOLOGIES THAT ARE USED IN HOSPITAL FOR PATIENT CARE WHICH HELPS TO PROMOTES PATIENT SAFETY, SUCH AS ELECTRONIC HEALTH RECORDS, HEALTH INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY OR HEALTH INFORMATION SYSTEM, CLINICAL DECISIONS SUPPORT etc.

MOST COMMONLY USED TECHNOLOGY IN HOSPITAL THAT HELPS IN CLINICAL DECISION MAKING AND PROMOTES PATIENT SAFETY IS ELECTRONIC HEALTH RECORDS.

ELECTRONIC HEALTH RECORDS:-   IT IS DEFINED AS THE DOCUMENTATION TOOL THAT COLLECTS PATIENT's DATA USEFUL IN ENHANCING PATIENT SAFETY, EVALUATING CARE QUALITY, MAXIMIZING EFFICIENCY AND MEASURING SKILLED NURSING SKILLS FOR PATIENT CARE. IT INCLUDES RANGE OF DATA SUCH AS MEDICAL HISTORY, MEDICATIONS AND ALLERGIES, LABORATORY TEST RESULTS, RADIOLOGICAL IMAGES, VITAL SIGNS, etc.

BENEFITS OF ELECTRONIC HEALTH RECORDS:-

• ELECTRONIC HEALTH RECORDS OR HIT( HOSPITAL INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY) DIRECTLY INFLUENCE PATIENT SAFETY, BECAUSE NURSING DOCUMENTATION FACILITATES REAL TIME COMMUNICATION AMONG ALL HEALTHCARE PROVIDERS.
• DUE TO ELECTRONIC HEALTH RECORDS MEDICATION ERRORS ARE REDUCED AND CLINICAL DECISIONS ARE MORE EASILY BE MADE BASED ON EVIDENCES. IT ELIMINATES PRESCRIPTION AND OTHER ERRORS RESULTING FROM ILLEGIBLE HANDWRITING.
• ELECTRONIC HEALTH RECORDS REDUCES THE RISK OF LOST PAPERWORK. THEY ARE EFFECTIVE FOR SEARCHING EVEN THE PAST MEDICAL DATA OF THE PATIENT WHO ARE UNDER LONG TERM TREATMENT.
• ELECTRONIC HEALTH RECORDS ARE ALSO HELPFUL WHEN SHARING INFORMATION BETWEEN DIFFERENT HEALTH CARE SYSTEMS.
• THEY ARE HELPFUL IN PROMOTING PATIENT HEALTH AND SAFETY AS EVERYTHING DONE FOR THE PATIENT DURING HIS TREATMENT IN THE HOSPITAL IS RECORDED AND ALSO IT PROVIDES GUIDANCE TO THE PHYSICIAN IN DECISION MAKING AS WHAT FURTHER MEDICAL INTERVENTIONS TO BE DONE TO IMPROVE PATIENT CARE.
• PATIENTS RECORDS CAN BE STORED EASILY BY THIS DIGITAL METHOD, AND CAN BE ASSESSED EASILY FROM ANY LOCATION, WHICH MAKE HEALTH INFORMATION AVAILABLE WHEN AND WHERE NEEDED AS PATIENTS MOVE WITHIN AND BETWEEN HEALTH CARE ORGANIZATIONS.

THUS ALL THE ABOVE INTERVENTIONS HELP IN IMPROVING CLINICAL DECISION MAKING AND PROMOTES PATIENT SAFETY IN HEALTH CARE DELIVERY SYSTEM.