Healthc Inform Res.  2013 Jun;19(2):69-78. 10.4258/hir.2013.19.2.69.

Trends in Health Information Technology Safety: From Technology-Induced Errors to Current Approaches for Ensuring Technology Safety

• Borycki E

• KMID: 2229487
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.4258/hir.2013.19.2.69

Abstract

OBJECTIVES
Health information technology (HIT) research findings suggested that new healthcare technologies could reduce some types of medical errors while at the same time introducing classes of medical errors (i.e., technology-induced errors). Technology-induced errors have their origins in HIT, and/or HIT contribute to their occurrence. The objective of this paper is to review current trends in the published literature on HIT safety.
METHODS
A review and synthesis of the medical and life sciences literature focusing on the area of technology-induced error was conducted.
RESULTS
There were four main trends in the literature on technology-induced error. The following areas were addressed in the literature: definitions of technology-induced errors; models, frameworks and evidence for understanding how technology-induced errors occur; a discussion of monitoring; and methods for preventing and learning about technology-induced errors.
CONCLUSIONS
The literature focusing on technology-induced errors continues to grow. Research has focused on the defining what an error is, models and frameworks used to understand these new types of errors, monitoring of such errors and methods that can be used to prevent these errors. More research will be needed to better understand and mitigate these types of errors.

Keyword

Health Information Systems; Patient Safety; Risk Management; Technology-Induced Error

MeSH Terms

Biological Science Disciplines
Delivery of Health Care
Health Information Systems
Learning
Medical Errors
Medical Informatics
Patient Safety
Risk Management