ACP HospitalistUser-friendly EHRs Also More Safety-friendly

Unlocking Medication Safety: The Integral Connection Between EHR Usability and Patient Well-being

The symbiotic relationship between electronic health records (EHRs) and medication safety has been explored in a recent study. Analyzing data from 112 US hospitals, the research unveils a crucial association between the usability of EHRs and clinicians’ ratings of safety performance. Dr. David W. Bates, coauthor and chief of general internal medicine at Brigham and Women’s Hospital, discusses the findings and their implications for the future of EHRs in an interview with ACP Hospitalist.

Key Points

• Usability and Safety Link: The study, based on 2017-2018 data, establishes a significant correlation between EHR usability and medication safety scores in 112 US hospitals.
• Clinician Insights: Dr. Bates emphasizes the importance of improving EHR usability to enhance the safety of patient care, pointing out the existing challenges such as alert fatigue.
• Safety Challenges: Current EHRs often present unnecessary warnings, hindering the differentiation between critical and less severe alerts, potentially impacting patient safety.
• Beyond Alert Fatigue: Although alert fatigue is a concern, the study reveals subtler issues, such as the placement of critical patient information and the lack of effective communication about important test results.
• Hospital Impact: Although the study doesn’t empirically prove a direct link, it suggests that improved EHR usability could positively affect hospitals’ safety statistics.
• Collaborative Efforts: Both hospitals and software companies play a role in addressing EHR usability issues. Dr. Bates urges collaboration to drive meaningful changes.
• Customization Challenges: Although hospitals have some control over EHR customization, frequent upgrades wipe out previous changes. Striking a balance is essential.
• Need for Ongoing Evaluation: The study’s data span 2017-2018, highlighting the necessity for continuous evaluation of EHR performance to address evolving challenges and ensure patient safety.
• Physician Role: Physicians often take on the responsibility of adjusting medication doses manually, indicating missed opportunities for EHRs to streamline and enhance these processes.
• Future Trends: Dr. Bates predicts a future where artificial intelligence will play a pivotal role in improving EHRs, making care more efficient, safer, and of higher quality.

According to a study published in the Journal of the American Medical Informatics Association, processing a prescription drug order through a Computerized Provider Order Entry (CPOE) system decreases the likelihood of error on that order by 48%. This led to an estimated 12.5% reduction in medication errors, or approximately 17.4 million medication errors averted in the USA in one year.

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