Worth a Read: Articles of Interest to the Healthcare IT Field

Medication Errors Injure 1.5 Million People and Cost Billions of Dollars Annually; Report Offers Comprehensive Strategies for Reducing Drug-Related Mistakes
By: Office of News and Public Information
The National Academies, July 20, 2006

A new report from the Institute of Medicine of the National Academies reports the most common medical error is a medication error, injuring 1.5 million people a year and costing hospitals well over $3.5 billion dollars a year.
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POINT OF CARE SERIES: PART 1 - Patient safety moves forward in some hospitals but, seven years after the “Quality Chasm” report, progress is still spotty.
By: Mark Hagland
Healthcare Informatics, August, 2006

Because of JCAHO Patient Safety Goals, more and more hospitals are utilizing technology to enhance patient safety. Are methods being used effective? This article takes a look at some of the broad trends in improving patient safety and the relationship between culture, processes and information technology.
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POINT OF CARE SERIES: PART 2 - Medication management is getting an IT makeover at safety-conscious healthcare organizations.
By: Mark Hagland
Healthcare Informatics, September, 2006

Using CPOE, eMAR’s and the electronic health record to improve patient safety during medication management.
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