The Institute of Medicine will do a one year study to examine how HIT can achieve its full potential to improve patient safety. The study will be done under a $989,000 contract just announced by the Office of the National Coordinator.
The study will examine a comprehensive range of patient safety-related issues on how to prevent HIT-related errors and provide for the rapid reporting of any HIT related patient safety issues. The study will also make recommendations concerning the potential effects of government policies and private sector actions in maximizing patient safety.
Highlights of the study will:
• Identify approaches to promote safety enhancing features of HIT
• Identify approaches for preventing HIT-related patient safety problems before they occur
• Identify approaches for surveillance and reporting activities to bring about rapid detection and correction of patient safety problems
• Address the potential roles for private sector entities such as accrediting and certification bodies, patient safety organizations, and professional and trade associations
• Discuss the potential role for key federal agencies such as FDA, AHRQ, and CMS
“Since 1999, when IOM published the study “To Err is Human”, the Institute has been a leader in the movement to improve patient safety,” said David Blumenthal, M.D., National Coordinator for Health Information Technology. “This study will draw on IOM’s depth of knowledge in this area to help ensure that HIT reaches the goals we are seeking for patient safety improvement.”
