Alarm fatigue and missing or incomplete electronic health-record data are among the top 10 patient-safety concerns for healthcare organizations, according to a new report from ECRI Institute.
Seven of the top 10 concerns have a health information-technology component, as the growing use of digital technology potentially increases the risk of errors that affect patient safety. The Joint Commission also issued a sentinel alert last week warning healthcare providers to beware of healthcare IT risks.
Bill Marella, executive director of operations and analytics at ECRI, a Plymouth Meeting, Pa.-based not-for-profit that evaluates medical devices, procedures, drugs and processes, says there's much to learn about errors rooted in technology. His group's new report says EHR information may be outdated, or electronic records may automatically default to incorrect information, and that an overreliance on technology can result in communication breakdowns.
The ECRI list compiles the top adverse events reported by more than 1,000 facilities participating in the institute's patient-safety organization.
