Computerizing the Healthcare System

A follow up to my last video on the healthcare policy case discussion.

Most hospitals in the world don't have a computerized way of entering, ordering, handing off drugs. But to use a computerized system can really reduce preventable, tragic medical errors.

Bates, DW et al. Effect of computerized physician order entry and a team intervention on prevention of serious medication errors.
JAMA. 1998 Oct 21;280(15):1311-6.

Poon, EG. Medication Dispensing Errors and Potential Adverse Drug Events
before and after Implementing Bar Code Technology in the Pharmacy. Ann Intern Med. 2006;145:426-434.

Category:

Howto & Style

Tags:

• usmedstudent
• healthcare
• quality
• physician
• order
• entry

[maiofsummer]

Oh, what do you think about the over perscribing antibiotics and the methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus cases in Hospitals from the past wk?

[usmedstudent]

i'm not well-vered on MRSA, but my friend was doing research on the subject over the summer. i'm astonished at the rise of MRSA in the communities. last year, they taught us that if doctors as a group stop over-prescribing antibiotics, MRSA and other anti-biotic resistant bugs will decrease. hopefully it's not too late to make changes.

[hord]

sounds really good as the pc will stop errors and it would speed it up alot.

[usmedstudent]

thanks -- i hope so!

[dustinchen]

Pretty old though been couple yearaas old

[usmedstudent]

that's very interesting. where are the pharmacies you are speaking of?

[wevenhuis]

Hi Jeff, this video blog is a hot topic! Technology is aimed at decreasing human error. Unfortunately it is only as good as it's user. A human still has to couple a barcode to the person and somenone also has to stick the barcode on the medication. The making of medication is also partly human work. If these steps fail, the whole system fails (but this is a worst case scenario). Tip: a nice follow-up of your blog would be a comment on the ins and outs of the electronic medical record.

[dagrk]

your video is great, i am a senior Industrial Engineerng Major and i have done research on effective health management systesms optimization, it is truly a remarkable field with credible growth and it is great to see growing support.

[tando1210]

St Vincents Hospital Sydney and Royal Darwin Hospital are rolling out full electronic medication management systems.

[gurldrummer]

Hi..I'm studying med in Au. I haven't witnessed the computerized system for myself to be able to describe the extent to which it is used, but a GP who was teaching us clinical skills mentioned that when we graduate, we will be able to access a pharmaceutical database at hospitals. It will give us the right dosages and warn us of possible undesirable interactions or allergies.

[kaalfoetertjie]

It sounds great, but I am a bit sceptical. I know from history and experience, that the more complicated the technology, the complicated the errors...

I have heard horror stories myself, about what mistakes can be made, and I can very well imagine how it feels. Many of these mistakes can also be solved by simple means, such as double checking, marking medications, not working too long...very discussion topic again, though. Peace, A. [=

[dustinchen]

pads of papers and pens si cheaper than mass computers...

[dustinchen]

i work at cvs pharmacy and we get electronic prescriptions all the time. wanan go to med school though