Creating a culture of safety using electronic medical records as a tool.

摘要

This study examined how the introduction of electronic medical records (EMRs) can create a culture of safety in health care organizations. The study hypothesized that EMRs can create a level of safety through effectiveness, efficiency and accuracy of transmitted patient information and detection of potential adverse events.;The study used secondary survey data derived from the Information Technology Supplement Survey done by the American Hospital Association (AHA) in 2007. Responses were analyzed on the use of EMRs, their functions and barriers to implementation.;Results showed that the use of EMRs could indeed help in detecting vulnerabilities in medical practices avoiding potential medical errors. Not much research currently exists on the effect of EMRs to improve patient safety. More studies on error-related research will provide insight into error detection, which will aid in error prevention.