Research shows that the adoption of electronic health record systems has created some new patient safety issues, Bloomberg reports.
Background
Health care providers nationwide increasingly are switching from paper-based medical records to EHRs as part of President Obama’s push to modernize the U.S. health care system.
Under the 2009 federal economic stimulus package, health care providers who demonstrate meaningful use of certified EHR systems can qualify for Medicaid and Medicare incentive payments. Health care providers who do not demonstrate meaningful use of EHRs by 2015 will face penalties.
Adverse Effects
Although EHR systems have reduced certain medical errors, such as those caused by physicians’ handwriting, a study published in 2011 based on reports to FDA revealed an uptick in new problems, including:
- Confusing drop-down menus that caused prescription drug dosage errors;
- EHRs displaying incorrect information, which resulted in unnecessary surgery; and
- Computer network delays in sending medical images, which lead to serious injury or death.
Meanwhile, a study published in December 2012 by the Pennsylvania Patient Safety Authority found that the number of EHR-related medical errors is increasing. According to the study, 1,142 EHR-related medical error incident reports were filed in 2011, more than double 2010’s figure.
Lack of Federal Oversight
According to Bloomberg, there is no central database of error reports involving EHRs and no federal requirement for EHR developers to report malfunctions, serious injuries or deaths involving their products.
The lack of oversight creates “unacceptable risks to safety,” according to a 2011
