Huff Post examines errors from electronic medical-record systems
The Huffington Post raised questions about safety issues related to the use of Computerized Provider Order Entry (CPOE) devices by hospitals.
The Huffington Post Investigative Fund raises the possibility for more errors to be caused by electronic medical-record systems as hospitals add them to take advantage of federal stimulus funds. The story by Fred Schulte and Emma Schwartz starts by citing some errors: a prescription for 10 times the required dosage, failure to alert staff of a patient transfer and a glitch that delayed a medical treatment. They write:
“Altogether, the Investigative Fund identified 237 reports of ‘adverse events’ associated with health information technology reported to the FDA over the past two years. Most problems involved computerized medical-ordering software or systems that supply the software with vital information, such as recommended doses of medicine or test results. Most of the adverse events recorded in FDA files were blamed on software malfunctions, user error or the system’s lack of user friendliness.”
Today’s Tip: Be transparent about what the information doesn’t say.
The reporters point out that the FDA data doesn’t provide specifics about the incidents and that the number of errors could be much higher because there are no mandatory reporting requirements.
”Data as journalism” is becoming a buzz phrase as more news outlets post databases online that readers can explore. By giving the audience our source material, we boost credibility, further increasing the need for transparency. In this instance, the Huff Post puts online excerpts from the 237 reports in the Manufacturer and User Facility Device Experience (MAUDE) database from the FDA.
Fred and Emma acknowledge the limitations in the data — perhaps pointing out a need for better reporting by health-care professionals. They also provide context and shed light on a potential problem: The prospect of stimulus funding – an estimated $5 million or more per hospital – could encourage “hospitals to install systems prematurely, possibly exposing patients to harm associated with software glitches and other system bugs.”
