Health IT And Patient Safety: IOM Reflection

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Health IT and Patient Safety, IOM Reflection April Everly Aria Health School of Nursing Nursing Informatics Health IT and Patient Safety, IOM reflection As the health information technology field grows, so does our efforts to implement and improve healthcare performance, reduce costs, and find new ways to enhance patient safety. In order to keep track of how health IT is actually affecting the healthcare field, informational studies are necessary. Studies can show us a lot in terms of "...evaluating safety concerns, and identifying actions that both the government and private sectors can make" (Institute of Medicine, 2011, para. 1). Through these studies it is hoped that we will have a better understanding and a clearer…show more content…
Current issues in privacy stem around nondisclosure and limited liability clauses that have caused some discouragement from users. We need to have a better way to ensure that user experiences are a positive one, and that users are not afraid to be liable if an undesirable health problem occurs. One way we are looking to improve both study reliability and patient privacy is by promoting transparency and accountability. "Vendors and users need to be able to report any deaths, injuries, or unsafe conditions without having any legal, contractual, or logistic barriers to reporting the incidents" (Institute of Medicine, 2011, para. 8). To achieve the best health IT system, transparency and accountability is ultimately the key in moving forward and creating better care for…show more content…
Being from the technology generation, it is easy for me to understand how monumental technology can be in advancing healthcare. "The "Net Generation" represents about 30% of the population in North America right now" (Richards, 2001, p. 365). Because of how fast technology is taking over, it is really important that we start getting back some valid factual information on how positively or negatively this is affecting health care. "Clinical nursing research serves as the foundation for decision making and ultimately shapes the way in which nurses envision their practice"(Richards, 2001, p. 368). We will only be able to iron out all of the fine details with privacy concerns and accountability/transparency when we can get valid statistical information. The catch 22 is that we can only get valid statistical information when we start improving accountability and transparency. It will be interesting for me to see in the upcoming years how this system all pans out, but as for now I have high hopes that health IT can stand to improve patient care

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