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12:00 AM - NextGen UGM 2025
Pathology Visions 2025
2025-10-05 - 2025-10-07    
8:00 am - 5:00 pm
Elevate Patient Care: Discover the Power of DP & AI Pathology Visions unites 800+ digital pathology experts and peers tackling today's challenges and shaping tomorrow's [...]
AHIMA25  Conference
2025-10-12 - 2025-10-14    
9:00 am - 10:00 pm
Register for AHIMA25  Conference Today! HI professionals—Minneapolis is calling! Join us October 12-14 for AHIMA25 Conference, the must-attend HI event of the year. In a city known for its booming [...]
Federal EHR Annual Summit
2025-10-21 - 2025-10-23    
9:00 am - 10:00 pm
The Federal Electronic Health Record Modernization (FEHRM) office brings together clinical staff from the Department of Defense, Department of Veterans Affairs, Department of Homeland Security’s [...]
NextGen UGM 2025
2025-11-02 - 2025-11-05    
12:00 am
NextGen UGM 2025 is set to take place in Nashville, TN, from November 2 to 5 at the Gaylord Opryland Resort & Convention Center. This [...]
Events on 2025-10-05
Events on 2025-10-12
AHIMA25  Conference
12 Oct 25
Minnesota
Events on 2025-10-21
Events on 2025-11-02
NextGen UGM 2025
2 Nov 25
TN

Events

Articles

Mass. Officials Say Nurses’ Lack of EHR Access Put Patients at Risk

nurses

Boston Medical Center patients were exposed to hepatitis B because nurses lacked access to electronic health records, according to an investigation by the Massachusetts Department of Public Health, the Boston Globe’sWhite Coat Notes” reports.

Investigation Findings

The investigation found that because nurses were unaware that one patient was infected with hepatitis B, they failed to properly clean dialysis machines before using them to treat 13 other patients.

Boston Medical Center contracts with DaVita, a private company, to manage its inpatient dialysis treatment. The two nurses involved in the case worked for Da Vita and were not employees of the hospital.

According to  state health officials, the hospital “failed to ensure” that the nurses “received orientation and read-only access to the hospital’s computerized medical record system before being allowed to independently care for hemodialysis patients.”

Corrective Action

The hospital said that it is monitoring five of the 13 exposed patients who lacked immunity to the infection.

Jennifer Watson — spokesperson for Boston Medical Center — said that none of the patients have tested positive for hepatitis B so far.

She also said that the hospital has “conducted a comprehensive review of the inpatient dialysis unit” and is working with DaVita “to implement new policies and procedures,” such as:

  • Providing all staff members with full access to and training for EHRs;
  • Requiring nurses to check patients’ medical information twice; and
  • Assigning more nurses to the unit to oversee new policies (Kowalczyk, “White Coat Notes,” Boston Globe, 8/1). Source