The Impact of New Technology on Patient Safety

摘要

Presented herein are the outline, method and results of a study aimed at describing and predicting the extended effects of new technology introduced in the process of hospital inpatient care. The technological changes focused in the study are the computerization of patient related notes, reports, diagnoses and orders, and the introduction of bar code labeling and scanning of medication, intended to promote accuracy of medication order and administration at the point of care. The goal of this study was to present an approach to assess the impact of new technology on the quality of patient care by detecting unintended side effects and complexities of technology change. The data was collected in two hospitals (one having a capacity of 80 inpatient beds, and the other having 177 inpatient beds) undergoing the process of technological change. Data was collected through observation of the inpatient medication process and from interviews with health care practitioners and managers. This data was used to develop a series of cases illustrating where the new technology could introduce new unintended complexities and side effects.