Hospitals and Computers

A Dangerous Combination

Presented by:

Gina M. Liguori

Are Hospital Computers Eliminating Dangerous medication Mix-ups?

According to the Boston Globe article, dated March 2005, the

following startling facts emerged…

Why?Because of Computer Systems

• Computer systems are overhyped and hard to use

• Computerized physician ordering requires a lot of work and continuous updating

• Doctors do not fully understand the system

• Doctors like the familiar prescription pads

• Computers were losing their orders

More Reasons

Patients with complex problems would require up to 20 computer screens to display their medical

history, making it difficult for doctors to avoid duplication or

drug interactions

Institute of Medicine Estimates…

Errors of all kinds kill 44,000 to 98,000 patients a year!

Nurses can make mistakes too

Computers are causing some patients

to be put at risk of getting double doses

of their medication while others get none

at all.

According to a recent issue of Family Circle Magazine, errors increase

about 25% at the start of each month. People who rely on Social Security and Medicare receive their benefits at the beginning of each month causing the Pharmacist’s workload to be very high.

We need to pay attention to the medications we are taking offer information and ask questions

Some Facts About the Hospital Computer System

• Only about 10% of US Hospitals have fully installed computerized drug ordering

• The systems can cost several million dollars to install

Why would a hospital pay all that money for a machine that may cause harm to patients?

Some Solutions?

• One Los Angeles Hospital turned off their system altogether

• Need to get in and see what is happening on the floor

• Training Seminars?

Government Involved?

Yes, they are currently working on programs to

help with the nurse shortage in our country

The good news is, hospitals

and doctors are aware

of the potential dangers and

are trying to find solutions

to rectify these problems

References www.boston.com/news/national/articles/2005/03/09

Article by: Scott Allen, Globe Staff, “Drug-error risk at hospitals tied to computers”

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/

Article by: Knight L, Yardley M. Jones A., The Dangers resulting from inaccurate computer based operative records”

http://www.usatoday.com/community/chat/1011cohen.htm

Article by Michael Cohen, “Medical Errors”

Family Circle Magazine, April 19, 2005

Article by Christine Brophy, “Medical News”

Sources