Technology is often touted as the cure for health care, but a new Joint Commission Sentinel Event Alert warns that implementation of technology and related devices is not a guarantee for success, and may actually jeopardize the quality and safety of patient care.
The Joint Commission’s Alert urges greater attention to understanding when a technology may (or may not) be applicable, choosing the right technology, understanding the impact technology can have on the quality and safety of patient care, and attempting to quickly fix technology when it becomes counterproductive. The Alert makes clear that the overall safety and effectiveness of technology in health care ultimately depend on its human users, and that any form of technology can have a negative impact on the quality and safety of care if it is designed or implemented improperly or is misinterpreted.
To reduce the risk of errors related to health information and technology, The Joint Commission’s Alert recommends that healthcare organizations take a series of 13 specific steps, including the adequate training of all staff who will be using the technology.
Read the Alert.
